IRVINE, 


i  **»—  • 


DWELLERS  IN  GOTHAM 


Homance  of  Nero  flork 


BY  ANNAN   DALE  ; 


\l 


NEW  YORK :    EATON  &  MAINS 
CINCINNATI :   CURTS  &  JENNINGS 


TG3 


Copyright  by 

EATON  &  MAINS, 

1898. 


To  those  who  have  adopted  the  Motto, 

"  For  the  wrong  that  needs  resistance, 
For  the  right  that  needs  assistance, 
For  the  future  in  the  distance, 
And  the  good  that  I  can  do," 

This  book  is  gratefully  dedicated. 
NEW  YORK.   1898. 


CONTENTS. 


BOOK  I.— BREAD. 

Chapter  Page 

I.  College  Cronies 3 

II.  A  Family  Council 10 

III.  Sister  and  Brother 17 

IV.  Mark  Brompton's  Nephew 26 

V.  A  Bohemian  Outing 32 

VI.  A  Reverend  Radical 40 

VII.  Making  Stones  into  Bread 50 

VIII.  The  Dream  and  the  Reality 58 

IX.  Angels  of  Flesh  and  Blood 64 

X.  An  Evening  at  Dr.  Disney's 72 

XI.  A  Sunday  on  the  East  Side 82 

XII.  Why  Elinor  Became  " Sister  Nora" 90 

XIII.  Hugh  Dunbar  Has  a  Revelation 99 

XIV.  A  Tortoise  and  His  Shell 107 

XV.  The  Steamer  and  the  Barge 1 16 

XVI.  A  Social  Science  Congress 126 

BOOK  II.— PRIDE. 

XVII.  The  Brompton  Household 141 

XVIII.  The  Firm  of  Linsey  &  Woolsey 152 

XIX.  A  Downtown  Boarding  House 162 

XX.  The  Marriage  Syndicate 170 

XXI.  Wee  Jamie 182 

v 


vl  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  Page 

XXII.  A  Trades  Union  Meeting 193 

XXIII.  Mrs.  Gubbins  Asks  Questions 206 

XXIV.  Broadway  by  Gaslight 215 

XXV.  Dick  Whittington's  Cat 227 

XXVI.  The  Real  Dr.  Disney 236 

XXVII.  Madge  is  Worldly  Wise 246 

XXVIII.  The  Mysterious  Consultation 254 

BOOK  III.— AMBITION. 

XXIX.  John  Disney's  Scheme 265 

XXX.  Madge  Visits  the  Mission 275 

XXXI.  Dixon  Faber :  Boy  and  Man 284 

XXXII.  Ethel  Brompton's  Choice 296 

XXXIII.  John  Disney  Hits  Hard 305 

XXXIV.  An  Evening  at  Mr.  Keen's 318 

XXXV.  A  Black  Eye 328 

XXXVI.  Concerning  Mrs.  Smithers 337 

XXXVII.  Ethel  Brompton's  Wedding 348 

XXXVIII.  Dr.  Bland  of  St.  Ezekiel's 360 

XXXIX.  Edward  Vaughen's  Sad  Discovery 367 

XL.  Mr.  Blinks  and  Mr.  Winks 375 

Epilogue 384 


BOOK  I.-BREAD 


DWELLERS  IN  GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  I. 
College    Cronies. 

^  CTYHERE  is  nothing  about  books  that  to  me  is 

so    dull,   so    dreary,   and   so  useless    as    a 

J[      preface.      If    an    author   has   anything  to 

say,  why  not  say  it  in  the  book  itself,  and  not  weary 

one  with  prologues  and  announcements  ?  "  and  with 

an  impatient  gesture  the  speaker  shut  the  book  which 

he  held  in  his  hand ;  but,  finding  that  this  did  not 

quite  meet  the  necessities  of  the  case,  he  began  pacing 

up  and  down  the  room  with  considerable  vigor. 

"  What  you  say  is  true,  but  why  waste  so  much 
energy  upon  such  a  trifle  ?  Here  you  are  striding 
around  and  consuming  yourself  generally,  simply  be 
cause  your  author  invited  you  to  enter  his  house  by  a 
graceful,  winding  path  instead  of  the  common,  pro 
saic  door,"  was  the  answer  of  a  young  man  who  was 
languidly  smoking  a  "bull-dog"  briar,  and  with  the 
same  languor  was  watching  the  tiny  smoke  rings 
floating  over  his  head  and  beyond  the  couch  upon 
which  he  was  comfortably  stretched. 

"  I  don't  object  to  winding  paths,  or  even  drive 
ways  and  avenues,  if  they  are  necessary,  but  when  a 
man's  house  is  on  the  street,  and  that  street  a  public 

3 


4  DWELLERS  IN  GOTHAM. 

thoroughfare,  why  the  way  in  should  be  through  a 
series  of  vestibules  all  posters  and  placards  is  not 
quite  clear  to  my  mind;"  and  the  eyes  still  glowed, 
though  with  less  fire,  and  the  striding  was  not  quite 
so  vehement. 

"  Ah  !  my  dear  boy,  the  number  of  things  which 
are  not  quite  clear  to  your  mind  reach  out  beyond 
the  limits  of  even  my  comprehension.  It  grieves 
me  to  think  that  the  cloudiness  and  general  obscura 
tion  of  which  you  complain  are  natural ;  but  you  are 
young,  and  your  case  is  by  no  means  hopeless. 
'  Don't  give  up  the  ship,'  and  remember  I  arn  your 
friend ;"  and  with  an  indolence  worthy  of  an  Oriental 
he  allowed  his  eyes  listlessly  to  follow  the  rings  of 
smoke  in  the  direction  of  the  open  window. 

"  Well,  if  it  pleases  you  to  think  that  I  am  dense 
and  sublimely  stupid,  you  will  be  sufficiently  just  to 
make  proper  allowance  for  my  associations.  One 
thing,  however,  you  have  not  done,  and  that  is,  made 
me  as  easy  and  indifferent  as  yon  are.  I  still  take 
an  interest  in  things  and  in  people,  and  the  concerns 
of  this  world  are  matters  of  concern  to  me ;  but  you 
look  on  and  smile  on,  like  a  graven  cherub  in  some 
cathedral ; "  and  the  tone,  though  of  good-humored 
banter,  was  edged  with  delicate  reproof. 

" I  thought  it  was  coming!  Now  bring  on  your 
'Macedonian  cry,' also  the 'sad  undertone  of  life,' 
and  don't  forget '  the  pitiful  and  pathetic  struggle.' 
It  is  fully  three  days  since  you  aired  the  '  woes  and 
wrongs '  and  the '  sacred  rights  trampled.'  Meantime 
let  me  so  arrange  these  pillows  that  the  body  of  my 
flesh  may  not  impede  the  high  movement  of  your 


COLLEGE  CRONIES.  5 

soul ; "  and,  so  saying,  he  assumed  an  air  of  patient 
endurance. 

"  O,  thou  well-fed,  well-clad,  well-formed  Gallic ! 
Little  dost  thou  care  for  the  riot  in  the  market  place, 
or  the  angry  mob  shouting  and  struggling.  For  Gallio 
fares  sumptuously  every  day.  He  has  a  handsome 
allowance  from  his  father ;  he  can  fit  up  his  apart 
ments  as  he  pleases  ;  upon  him  no  burden  or  obliga 
tion  rests.  Then  why  should  he  trouble  or  vex  his 
complacent  soul  with  the  '  woes  and  wrongs'  which 
sit  so  lightly  on  his  tongue,  or  with  the  'Macedonian 
cry  '  which  he  has  never  heard  ?  " 

"Capital!  You  have  struck  a  new  lead,  old  fel 
low.  That  Gallio  idea  is  fine  ;  but  now,  as  a  worthy 
Roman  who  had  the  good  sense  to  mind  his  own 
business,  he  commends  himself  most  refreshingly.  I 
am  glad  you  brought  him  with  you  this  afternoon. 
Bring  him  again,  and  I  would  suggest  him  as  some 
thing  of  an  example  for  yourself.  As  between  Paul, 
the  iconoclast,  and  Demetrius,  the  labor  agitator,  I 
would  do  just  as  Gallio  did — drive  the  whole  raft  of 
wranglers  away  and  let  them  settle  their  dispute  else 
where  ; "  and  the  smoke  rings  curled  as  gracefully  as 
ever,  and  were  followed  with  the  same  languid  in 
terest. 

"Yes,  but  wasn't  it  cowardly — a  mean  evasion  of 
responsibility?  It  was  his  place  to  give  judgment; 
he  was  there  to  settle  just  such  disputes,  and  for  a 
man  arbitrarily  to  dispose  of  the  whole  business  as  he 
did  shows  an  utter  indifference  to  the  claims  of  jus 
tice;"  and  the  eyes  had  now  regained  their  former 
glow,  and  the  face  was  full  of  earnestness. 


6  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"  Now,  Vanghen,  as  your  *  guide,  philosopher,  and 
friend,'  let  me  give  you  some  good  advice.  It  is 
very  evident  that  you  don't  understand  Gallic  ;  this, 
however,  is  only  natural,  as  he  was  before  your  time. 
It  is  a  disadvantage  to  be  either  behind  or  before 
your  age.  David,  Israel's  favorite  king,  had  the  good 
sense  to  *  serve  his  own  generation,'  which  accounts 
for  his  general  success.  These  Utopian  men  who 
insist  upon  climbing  the  hills  of  futurity  and  plan 
ning  for  the  interests  of  unborn  millions  are  exceed 
ingly  tiresome.  It  is  true  that  Solomon  did  not  say, 

*  Make  hay  while  the  sun  shines,'  but  he  did  say, 

*  The  churning  of  milk  bringeth  forth  butter,'  which 
means  practically  the  same  thing.     Take  my  advice, 
and  churn  milk.     Improve  the  breed  and  condition 
of  the  cows ;  see  that  the  pasturage  is  good ;  get  the 
latest  and  most  improved  churn  ;  let  butter  be  your 
objective  point.     The  world  insists  upon  your  making 
butter,  and  the  more  of  it  you  can  make  and  market 
the  better  for  yourself  and  all  concerned." 

The  place  was  a  New  England  college  town ;  the 
speakers  were  Edward  Vanghen  and  John  Disney; 
the  time  was  the  month  of  June,  and  the  year  was 
early  in  the  nineties.  The  room  was  Disney's,  but 
the  close  companionship  of  four  years  had  given 
Vaughen  a  sense  of  ownership  little  less,  if,  indeed, 
anything,  than  that  of  the  legal  occupant.  Entering 
college  at  the  same  time,  both  fairly  studious  and 
having  many  things  in  common,  the  young  men  be 
came  fast  friends,  and  now  that  they  were  to  separate 
within  a  few  weeks  much  of  their  last  days  were 
spent  together. 


COLLEGE   CRONIES.  7 

When  Vaughen  spoke  of  Disney  as  a  well-fed, 
well-clad,  and  well-formed  Gallio  he  was  justified  in 
large  measure,  for  there  was  in  Disney's  bearing  and 
appearance  every  indication  of  ample  means  and 
luxurious  tastes.  His  room  was  richly  furnished, 
though  the  effect  was  thoroughly  masculine.  True, 
no  imposing  pugilists  in  warlike  attitudes,  with 
hands  about  the  size  of  a  huge  dumpling  and  very 
much  in  the  foreground,  occupied  the  place  of  honor 
over  the  mantelpiece ;  neither  was  there  the  usual 
group  of  celebrities  whose  fields  of  distinction  varied 
all  the  way  from  dime  museums  to  Metropolitan 
Opera  Houses  ;  nor  was  there  any  pretentious  display 
of  Indian  clubs  and  golf  sticks  and  fishing  rods  so 
arranged  as  to  suggest  the  athlete  and  the  sportsman, 
an  arrangement,  by  the  way,  often  only  a  delusion 
and  a  snare.  Still,  despite  its  daintiness  and  color 
and  the  absence  of  anything  suggestive  of  the 
"  sport,"  the  room  had  a  virility  distinctively  its  own, 
and  which  no  one  could  call  in  question. 

The  same  was  true  of  Disney  himself ;  for  he 
could  pull  an  oar,  swing  a  bat,  don  the  gloves — in 
short,  do  anything  that  was  expected  of  a  strong, 
active  young  fellow. 

Among  certain  of  the  college  men  he  was  very 
popular,  for  though  he  could  say  sharp  things,  yet  he 
was  never  ungenerous  nor  hurtful,  and  his  keen 
weapon  rarely  flashed  save  for  amusement. 

Vaughen  afforded  him  rare  enjoyment,  for 
Yaughen  was  ardent,  full  of  sympathy,  easily 
aroused,  rather  inclined,  however,  to  heroics,  and 
upon  his  favorite  themes  he  would  declaim  and  orate 


8  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

in  a  dramatic  but  somewhat  tragic  way.  Then 
Vaughen  had  tendencies  toward  socialism  which  he 
aired  with  much  freedom  and  fluency,  but  as  he  knew 
even  less  of  socialism  than  of  the  Northwest  Passage 
these  tendencies  were  fairly  vague  and  indefinite. 
But,  like  all  young  men  of  his  temperament,  he  was 
shy  of  definitions,  and  as  for  cold,  rigorous  logic,  he 
treated  it  much  as  the  priest  and  the  Levite  did  the 
poor  fellow  who  lay  on  the  roadside  between  Jeru 
salem  and  Jericho.  Nevertheless  it  was  really  pleas 
ant  to  hear  him  so  earnestly  espouse  the  cause  of  the 
common  people,  and  the  fact  that  he  knew  nothing 
whatever  concerning  the  real  merits  of  the  question 
added,  if  anything,  to  the  satisfaction  of  listening  to 
him.  But  orators  have  no  right  to  be  held  down  to 
the  dead  level  of  plain  facts  and  common  statistics. 
An  imagination  which  was  intended  to  fly  at  will  in 
the  upper  heavens  should  not  be  treated  as  a  barn 
yard  fowl.  At  least  so  John  Disney  reasoned,  and, 
knowing  that  Edward  Vaughen  was  not  seriously 
embarrassed  by  either  the  extent  or  the  accuracy 
of  his  information,  he  could  not  but  enjoy  his 
oratory. 

"  You  started  in  by  saying  something  concerning 
a  preface,"  said  Disney,  "  but  with  characteristic  and 
becoming  consistency  you  have  wandered  from  your 
theme  like  the  sheep  from  the  fold,  and  unless  some 
kind  shepherd  goes  after  you  and  brings  you  back 
yon  will  be  lost  among  the  mountains." 

"  I  may  have  wandered  from  the  preface,  but  I 
tell  you,  Disney,  it  is  not  the  one  sheep  which  is 
hungry  and  homeless  on  the  desolate  hills ;  the  ninety 


COLLEGE   CRONIES.  9 

and  nine  are  there.     Think  of  the  want,  the  poverty, 
the  hopeless  misery —  " 

"  O,  Vaughen  !  It  is  only  a  day  or  two  since 
you  went  all  over  this,  and  with  these  same  sheep  too. 
Now,  I  don't  like  sheep.  A  sheep  never  had  the 
same  attraction  for  me  that  a  goat  has.  There  is 
something  positively  funny  about  a  goat.  A  goat's 
eye  has  a  twinkle  as  though  there  were  mischief  be 
hind  it,  and  the  way  in  which  a  goat  will  stand  up  and 
face  a  frowning  world  is  simply  heroic.  But  a  sheep 
is  altogether  too  saintly.  Don't,  therefore,  make  such 
harrowing  and  distressful  appeals  to  me.  I  didn't 
make  this  world  ;  it  was  here  before  I  came,  and  will 
be  here  when  I  am  gone,  and  if  you  spend  your  time 
declaiming  about  '  woes '  and  '  wrongs,'  just  remem 
ber,  my  dear  boy,  that  no  butter  will  come  from  your 
churn,  and  as  I  have  often  urged  upon  you,  butter, 
the  right  kind  of  butter,  is  a  decided  addition  to 
bread.  To  get  bread  is  comparatively  easy,  but  to 
get  bread  and  butter  in  harmonious  and  abundant  re 
lations  is  the  problem  of  life.  The  bread  board  apart 
from  the  churn  means  barrenness,  if  not  barbarism. 
Hobbs,  who  lives  down  in  the  town  in  a  small  tene 
ment,  and  who  can  hardly  make  ends  meet,  he  has 
bread,  but  no  butter  ;  Dobbs,  who  lives  up  here  on 
the  hill  in  his  big  house  and  with  every  comfort,  he 
has  both  bread  and  butter.  See  ?  But  my  pipe  has 
gone  out ;  let  us  do  the  same." 


10  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  II. 

A  Family  Council. 

>"/OHN  DISNEY  was  not  provokingly  and  aj 
\  gressively  rich,  as  Edward  Yaughen  mig] 
QJ  seem  to  suggest,  for  while  he  had  a  generoi 
college  allowance,  still  his  father  was  neither  a  rai 
road  magnate  nor  a  cotton  king,  and  not  even  a  cor 
mon  millionaire.  Dr.  Disney,  however,  was  on  i; 
timate  terms  with  many  of  these  magnates  an 
kings,  for  he  was  a  physician  of  extensive  practi< 
among  some  of  the  most  wealthy  and  influential  fan 
ilies  in  New  York,  and  enjoyed  in  consequence 
very  handsome  revenue. 

When  it  is  said  that  Dr.  Disney's  services  were  : 
the  most  urgent  demand  by  a  certain  class  whoi 
ailments  are  not  obtrusive  nor  alarming  no  reflectic 
is  intended,  for  Dr.  Disney  was  skillful,  and  in  son 
respects  a  master  in  his  profession ;  but  he  had  di 
covered  that  there  were  those  who  enjoyed  the  visi 
of  a  doctor,  provided  he  maintained  an  irreproac 
able  brougham,  and  whose  coming  to  a  house  co 
duced  to  its  importance  and  dignity.  His  broughar 
therefore,  was  a  model  of  its  kind ;  and  seemed 
partake  of  the  bearing  and  character  of  its  occupan 
It  was  not  somber,  neither  was  it  pretentious,  yet 
was  essentially  dignified  and  suggestive,  and  peop 
instinctively  looked  from  it  to  the  house  befo 
which  it  stood,  the  one  somehow  reflecting  upon  tl 


A  FAMILY  COUNCIL.  11 

other.  His  horses,  though  full-blooded  and  capable 
of  good  work  when  required,  behaved  with  a  due 
sense  of  the  proprieties ;  hence  there  was  no  jerky 
switching  of  tails,  no  impatient  pawing  and  stamping 
of  feet,  no  restless  twitching  and  shaking  of  heads, 
such  as  other  horses  indulge  in  when  the  call  has 
been  unreasonably  prolonged.  With  a  keen  sense  of 
the  rank  and  dignity  which  they  were  required  to 
maintain  they  pointedly  refused  to  recognize  any  of 
their  kin  save  those  who  could  claim  perfect  equality, 
and  the  contempt  with  which  they  received  advances 
from  a  hired  hack  or  a  dry -goods  wagon  was  in  the 
highest  form  of  equine  etiquette. 

As  for  the  coachman,  he  was  a  Personage.  His 
livery  was  sedate  and  impressive ;  his  face  was 
both  proud  and  profound.  With  a  bearing  which 
nothing  human  could  disturb  he  occupied  his  exalted 
position,  scarcely  deigning  by  a  glance  to  notice  the 
unhappy  creatures  who  were  compelled  to  use  the 
sidewalk. 

But,  while  Dr.  Disney's  appointments  met  the  de 
mands  of  the  most  exacting,  they  were  also  in  per 
fect  accord  with  his  own  gracious  and  imposing  per 
sonality.  Besides  being  dignified,  Dr.  Disney  was  of 
stalwart  proportions,  of  handsome  countenance,  of 
stately  figure,  while,  in  addition,  there  was  an  air  of 
conscious  superiority  which  potently  diffused  itself,  so 
that  the  very  atmosphere  in  which  he  lived  and  moved 
and  had  his  being  seemed  charged  with  mysterious 
suggestions  of  greatness  and  skill.  No  man  in  New 
York  knew  better  the  value  of  appearances,  and  no 
man  knew  better  how  to  maintain  them — with  seem- 


12  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

ingly  no  intention  of  doing  so.  He  was  never  af 
fected,  but  always  careful ;  never  excited,  but  always 
calm  and  deliberate  ;  and  the  quiet,  dignified  way  in 
which  he  entered  the  home  of  a  patient  was  a  study 
in  the  art  of  deportment. 

"And  how  is  our  friend  this  morning?"  was  a 
favorite  salutation,  and  by  judicious  use  of  emphasis 
and  intonation  he  contrived  to  make  "  our  friend  " 
feel  fairly  comfortable,  particularly  if  the  sickness 
was  largely  imaginative — a  circumstance  by  no  means 
rare.  Being  a  man,  he  could  not  well  possess  the 
"  low,  sweet  voice  "  which  is  a  woman's  peculiar  gift, 
but  the  masculinity  of  his  tones  was  tempered  with  a 
nicety  of  shading  that  was  simply  exquisite. 

At  the  proper  time  many  of  his  patients  went  to 
Newport,  to  the  Berkshires,  and  to  Europe  for  just 
that  peculiar  tonic  or  change  of  air  which  was  essen 
tial  in  each  case,  and,  as  a  proof  of  his  undoubted 
skill  in  diagnosis  and  interpretation  of  symptoms,  in 
every  instance  the  patient  was  sent  to  the  very  place 
which  had  been  chosen  before  even  the  doctor  gave 
his  opinion  I 

His  general  methods  were  both  popular  and  suc 
cessful,  and  as  his  popularity  gave  him  much  per 
sonal  satisfaction,  and  his  success  yielded  him  a  hand 
some  income,  he  had  no  special  cause  for  complaint. 
Dr.  Disney,  however,  was  not  a  happy  man.  No 
one  looking  at  that  face,  which  now  at  fifty  was 
almost  as  ruddy  and  as  free  from  the  marks  of  care 
as  in  his  early  manhood,  would  suspect  anything  of 
mystery  and  sorrow,  yet  behind  the  open  smile, 
the  frank,  blue  eye,  the  cheery,  cordial  greeting, 


A  FAMILY  COUNCIL.  13 

there  was  something  which  now  and  then  cast  a  deep 
shadow  full  upon  his  path,  causing  an  anxiety  at 
times  so  intense  as  to  banish  sleep,  and  to  make  him 
seem  but  the  semblance  of  his  former  self.  Even  on 
the  street,  when  driving  to  the  homes  of  his  patients, 
something  like  a  key  would  unlock  the  mystic  doors  ; 
a  strained,  anxious  look  would  come  upon  him  ;  for 
the  moment  he  seemed  haunted,  startled,  but  his 
strong  will  soon  reasserted  itself,  so  that  when  he 
left  the  carriage  and  went  up  the  steps  of  the  house 
to  which  he  had  been  summoned  there  was  no  trace 
of  agitation  whatever,  and  he  was  the  same  calm, 
suave  physician  as  before. 

"John's  letters  have  given  me  some  concern  of 
late,"  he  said  to  Mrs.  Disney,  as  they  sat  in  the 
library  in  the  rare  enjoyment  of  an  evening  free 
from  any  professional  or  social  engagement,  and 
when  at  such  times  family  councils  usually  were  held. 

"  In  what  way  ? "  replied  Mrs.  Disney,  though  the 
reply  was  in  the  form  of  a  question,  and  accom 
panied  by  a  look  of  serious  inquiry. 

"  Well,  I  hardly  know,  but  somehow  a  feeling  of 
uneasiness  is  associated  with  almost  every  letter  of 
his,  more  especially  during  the  past  few  months." 

"  He  has  not  been  overexerting  himself,  I  hope  ? " 
and  this  time  it  was  the  mother  voice  which  gave  ac 
cent  and  emphasis  to  the  inquiry. 

"  O,  no !  John  has  neither  overworked  himself 
in  study  nor  abused  himself  in  play,  for  he  is  too  idle 
for  the  one  and  too  lazy  for  the  other ; "  this,  how 
ever,  in  a  tone  which  had  more  of  approval  than  re 
proof. 


14  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"What,  then,  gives  you  concern?  Has  John 
fallen  into  bad  habits  or  taken  up  with  objectionable 
people?"  and  by  this  time  Mrs.  Disney  had  finished 
her  coffee  and  was  leaning  over  that  she  might  see 
her  husband's  face. 

"  No ;  there  is  no  trouble  of  that  sort.  John  does 
not  return  heavily  burdened  with  honors  and  medals, 
but  his  college  life  generally  has  been  all  right." 

"  Then  the  only  thing  is  money,  and  that  need  not 
astonish  you,  for  John  never  was  a  brilliant  econo 
mist.  Still " — giving  a  look  around,  taking  in  the 
luxurious  library,  with  its  big  easy  chairs,  its  rare  old 
engravings,  its  book  shelves  filled  with  the  choicest 
and  richest  literature,  its  varied  and  costly  bric-a- 
brac — "  we  are  really  not  so  poor  after  all,  and  if  John 
has  been  a  little  bit  extravagant  we  must  only  put  up 
with  it." 

"  It  isn't  exactly  money,  and  yet  it  relates  to 
money,  for,  if  I  understand  the  case,  John  has  got 
hold  of  some  socialistic  notions  and  is  beginning  to 
pose  as  an  advanced  reformer." 

"  "What !  John  a  socialist !  O,  that  is  impossible ! " 
exclaimed  Mrs.  Disney,  whose  ideas  of  socialism 
were  of  the  fierce,  lurid  type  made  familiar  by  Car- 
tyle's  French  devolution,  and  still  more  recently  in 
the  Paris  Commune ;  hence  the  possibility  of  her 
son  being  of  that  uncouth,  unsavory  multitude,  with 
matted  hair,  ragged  beard,  generally  unkempt  and 
disreputable,  was  anything  but  pleasant  to  one  so  re 
fined  and  sensitive. 

"That  is  Edward  Vaughen's  work,"  broke  in 
Madge  Disney,  John's  only  sister  and  his  junior  by 


A  FAMILY  COUNCIL.  15 

some  three  years,  a  young  lady  with  whom  we  are 
likely  to  have  a  more  intimate  acquaintance.  "  Last 
season  at  Newport  Edward  Yaughen,  John's  particu 
lar  crony,  spent  part  of  the  vacation  with  us,  and  he 
had  all  sorts  of  notions  and  fancies.  I  saw  quite  a 
little  of  him,  and,  indeed,  I  rather  enjoyed  his  pet 
phrases  about  '  the  seriousness  of  life,'  '  the  evasion 
of  responsibility,'  and  all  that  kind  of  thing — a 
rather  good-looking  fellow,  but  perfectly  harmless." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  '  harmless  ? '  "  said  Dr. 
Disney,  rising  from  his  chair  and  going  over  to  the 
mantelpiece,  upon  which  he  rested  his  hand,  mean 
while  smiling  pleasantly  at  his  daughter. 

"  Just  this :  the  socialism  that  John  will  acquire 
from  Mr.  Yaughen  is  not  at  all  dangerous.  The  fact 
is  " — and  here  Madge  allowed  the  bright  laugh  which 
had  been  accumulating  for  some  minutes  to  ripple 
out  in  her  speech  until  every  word  tinkled  and 
chimed  with  girlish  merriment — "  Mr.  Yaughen  is 
merely  a  faddist ;  he  has  taken  this  up  as  a  means  of 
gaining  some  little  distinction  which  was  not  other 
wise  possible  to  him ;  he  likes  to  warm  himself  at  the 
fire  of  his  own  eloquence.  He  has  two  or  three  pet 
theories  which  he  rubs  together  as  Robinson  Crusoe 
did  his  bits  of  wood,  and  the  tiny  flame  seen  through 
the  eyes  of  his  self-conceit  appears  a  positive  confla 
gration." 

"  Still  he  has  inoculated  John  with  some  of  the 
virus,"  said  the  doctor,  lapsing  for  the  moment  into 
professional  phrase. 

"Yes;  but  the  virus,  as  you  call  it,  won't  'take' 
in  any  alarming  way.  *  Take '  is  the  proper  term,  is 


16  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

it  not  ?  I  have  heard  Mr.  Vaughen  talk  in  the  most 
deliciously  bewildering  way  of  the  '  unearned  incre 
ment 'and  'grinding  monopolies,'  but  the  poor  fel 
low  hadn't  the  faintest  idea  of  either  the  one  or  the 
other.  There  was  no  particular  harm  in  my  appear- 
in":  to  be  interested,  and  so  I  asked  him  to  tell  me 

O  • 

just  what  he  meant,  when  he  blushed  and  stam 
mered  and  floundered  around  in  the  most  delightful 
way.  Mr.  Vaughen  is  a  social  theosophist,  a  soap- 
bubble  reformer,  a  cloud-dweller  and  substitute 
philanthropist,  who  will  probably  get  some  sense 
later  on." 

"  You  seem  to  have  made  the  most  of  your  oppor 
tunities,"  laughed  Dr.  Disney. 

"He  was  genuinely  interesting,  I  admit.  He  was 
both  pathetic  and  bathetic.  He  brought  in  '  the  toil 
ing  millions'  and  'life's  sad  undertone'  most  dra 
matically  ;  but  better  than  all,  the  young  man  took 
himself  seriously,  which  added  by  so  much  to  the 
occasion." 

"  It  would  distress  me  exceedingly  to  have  John 
take  any  part  in  such  follies  and  theories,"  said  Mrs. 
Disney,  "  for  few  young  men  have  better  prospects 
and  opportunities." 

"  There  is  no  cause  for  anxiety,"  answered  Madge. 
"  We  all  know  John  ;  with  him  the  horny-handed 
son  of  toil  may  be  both  a  man  and  a  brother,  but 
John,  as  he  says  himself,  Mikes  his  bread  well  but 
tered,'  and  unless  all  signs  fail  he  will  have  his  bread 
well  buttered  from  now  on." 


SISTER   AND    BROTHER.  17 


CHAPTER  III. 

Sister  and  Brother. 

WHEN  Madge  Disney  in  her  eager,  character 
istic  way  said,  "  We  all  know  John,"  she 
used  a  common,  everyday  phrase,  yet  a 
more  misleading  or  deceptive  form  of  speech  it 
would  be  difficult  to  imagine. 

There  is  an  inscrutable  mystery  surrounding  every 
life,  and  into  that  mystery  no  one  ever  penetrates. 
That  mountain  in  yon  distant  wilderness,  wrapped  in 
smoke,  burning  in  flame,  trembling  in  thunder,  and 
out  of  whose  solemnity  and  grandeur  a  great  voice 
sounds  as  of  a  mighty  trumpet,  is  more  than  the 
sublime  vision  of  a  Hebrew  seer ;  it  is  a  type  of  the 
mystery  and  awfulness  of  human  life,  a  life  that  is 
so  distinct  and  solitary  as  to  invest  it  with  a  sacred- 
ness  which  must  not  be  profaned. 

We  know  each  other's  names ;  we  have  a  general 
idea  of  each  other's  form  and  appearance ;  occasion 
ally  we  pick  up  a  pebble  on  the  beach  of  each  other's 
character  and  disposition,  but  beyond  this  no  one 
ever  goes.  Under  the  soft  moss  of  gentle  manner 
there  are  masses  of  granite  of  which  we  do  not 
dream ;  under  the  sloping  hills  with  their  vineyards 
purpling  in  the  sun  a  volcano  is  hidden.  The  body 
which  we  have  thought  was  a  temple  enshrining 
beauty  and  purity  is  often  only  a  lair  for  a  ravenous 
beast ;  and  the  bosom  which  we  imagined  a  holy  altar 


18  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

often  flames  with  the  most  intense  and  degrading 
passion. 

The  brilliant  pupil  of  Gamaliel  never  uttered  a 
more  profound  truth  than  when  he  said,  "  For  what 
man  knoweth  the  things  of  a  man,  save  the  spirit  of 
man  which  is  in  him  ? " 

Now  here  was  John — easy,  careless,  with  a  vein  oi 
cynicism  which  gave  color  and  vividness  to  his  con 
versation  ;  one  whom  no  one  suspected  of  strong  con 
viction  or  deep  feeling ;  not  without  principle,  but 
seemingly  without  earnestness;  outwardly  content 
with  himself  and  his  surroundings ;  and  though  by  no 
means  unfeeling  or  indifferent,  yet  so  far  his  exer 
tions  for  the  well-being  of  mankind  had  been  limited 
to  the  promotion  of  his  own  comfort.  This  John 
Madge  knew ;  but  the  real  John,  the  John  like  some 
cathedral  inclosed  within  planken  walls  and  hidden 
behind  staging  and  scaffolding,  was  a  being  of  whom 
she  knew  nothing  whatever. 

For  some  time,  however,  Dr.  Disney  had  sus 
pected  that  John  was  not  all  on  the  surface,  and  that 
back  of  his  languid,  graceful  indolence  there  was  a 
strong,  masterful  spirit  which  in  time  would  assert 
itself. 

It  was  the  custom  of  the  Disneys  to  leave  town 
early  in  June,  but  this  year  as  an  affectionate  com 
pliment  to  John  they  remained  at  home  until  he  had 
returned  from  college.  Indeed,  it  was  in  the  plans 
of  the  family  to  attend  commencement,  but  the 
sudden  and  serious  illness  of  Mrs.  Disney's  father 
summoned  her  to  his  bedside,  and  though  Dr.  Disney 
was  anxious  that  Madge  should  share  in  the  college 


SISTER   AND    BROTHER.  19 

festivities,  still  under  the  circumstances  she  thought 
it  best  to  remain  at  home. 

For  a  girl  just  turned  twenty  years  of  age,  and 
who  was  supposed  to  be  impulsive,  Madge  possessed 
her  full  share  of  worldly  wisdom.  Quick,  bright, 
keea;~wi&  speech,  as  nimble  and  sure-footed  as  a 
chamois;  with  a  calm  assurance  which  was  as  pro 
nounced  as  it  was  ladylike ;  with  a  serene  confidence 
in  herself  which,  though  just  a  little  imperious,  was 
always  attractive;  having,  besides,  a  good,  sound  heart 
and  a  wholesome  conscience,  she  was  quite  a  fa 
vorite  in  her  immediate  circle.  Beyond  that  circle, 
however,  Madge  was  not  so  definitely  popular ;  as,  for 
instance,  among  the  Fitz  Noodles,  the  Van  Boodles, 
the  McSwoodles,  and  certain  other  members  of  New 
York's  proud  nobility  whose  ancestors  came  over  on 
the  Mayflower,  though,  strange  to  say,  their  names 
are  not  found  in  the  roll  of  that  brave  ship's  pas 
sengers. 

But  what  right  has  anyone  to  crawl  under  the 
ruins  of  the  centuries  looking  for  "  logs "  and 
"  lists,"  and  putting  pages  of  faded  handwriting  be 
neath  a  microscope  ?  Such  a  proceeding  is  positively 
cruel,  for  it  permits  no  generous  use  of  the  imagina 
tion.  Why  not  allow  Mrs.  Fitz  Noodle  the  rewards 
and  benefits  of  her  illustrious  kinship?  Anyone 
looking  at  her  row  of  chins,  three  in  number,  descend 
ing  in  elegant  curves  upon  her  antique  but  ample 
bosom  ;  her  graceful  nose,  with  broad  foundations  and 
celestial  terminations ;  her  low,  narrow  forehead, 
sicklied  over  with  the  pale  cast  of  a  weak  digestion, 
can  see  at  once  her  high  lineage,  and  if  her  great 


20  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM 

progenitor  happened  to  be  a  foretopman  on  the  May 
flower  are  not  her  claims  to  a  lofty  descent  abun 
dantly  verified  ?  These  things  should  not  be  laughed 
at,  nor  even  spoken  of  lightly. 

It  is  true  that  some  most  unworthy  and  irreverent 
people  sit  on  the  benches  in  Central  Park  during  the 
early  summer  afternoons,  and  when  such  distin 
guished  persons  as  the  Van  Boodles  and  the  Mc- 
Swoodles  in  their  stately  and  imposing  carriages  roll 
by  nudge  each  other  and  say,  "  Soap,"  "  Patent  Medi 
cine,"  "  Spades  and  Shovels,"  "  Beer,"  and  other 
coarse  and  unfeeling  expressions ;  but  who  can  tell 
how  much  spite  and  envy  have  to  do  with  this  open 
contempt  of  pedigree  ?  The  man  on  the  bench  may 
be  just  as  much  of  a  snob  as  the  man  in  the  carriage. 
That  supercilious  smile  from  the  benches  is  often  but 
a  flimsy  disguise  with  which  disappointment  would 
fain  hide  itself. 

But  while  Madge  affected  a  certain  democracy  of 
air  and  bearing  there  was  something  in  the  poise  of 
her  shapely  head,  in  the  set  of  her  well-formed 
shoulders,  in  the  look  of  her  clear,  gray  eyes,  which 
could  not  be  mistaken,  and  which  assured  for  her  rec 
ognition  as  of  the  Gotham  aristocracy.  She  could, 
therefore,  afford  to  make  light  of  some  things  which 
others  held  in  much  esteem.  Still  she  was  full  of 
tact,  and  seldom  ran  counter  to  the  customs  and  de 
crees  of  the  august  Gothamites.  She  declined,  there 
fore,  to  accept  her  father's  proposition  to  attend  the 
commencement  festivities,  though  in  all  honesty  this 
declination  involved  severe  disappointment. 

"  John,"  she  said  one  morning,  several  days  after 


SISTER   AND    BROTHER.  21 

her  brother  had  returned  from  college  and  the 
doctor  had  started  on  his  round — for,  though,  the 
season  was  well  on,  a  number  of  his  patients  were 
yet  in  town — "  what  are  you  going  to  do  with  your 
self  now  that  you  are  at  home  ? " 

"  Do  you  mean  your  question  for  to-day  or  to 
morrow  or  next  day  ? " 

"  I  think  I  can  answer  for  to-day  or  to-morrow,  but 
it  is  the  next  day  and  the  day  after  to  which  I 
refer ; "  going  over  to  the  piano,  ostensibly  to  gather 
up  and  arrange  some  music  which  had  been  taken 
from  the  rack,  but  in  reality  to  have  John's  face 
in  a  better  light,  for  Madge  meant  this  to  be  a 
serious  conversation. 

John  Disney  had  an  open,  frank  countenance,  and 
Madge  was  familiar  with  its  every  movement  and 
expression ;  hence  her  anxiety  to  note  the  effect  of 
her  words. 

"  Frankly,  Madge,  I  don't  know,"  said  John,  play 
ing  idly  with  a  birthday  charm  which  hung  on  his 
watch  chain,  but  it  was  evident  that  the  subject  was 
one  of  special  interest. 

"  But  I  thought  you  did  know,  for  was  it  not  un 
derstood  that  you  would  continue  in  your  studies 
and  in  due  time  take  up  some  of  papa's  work,  and 
eventually  share  his  practice  ? " 

"Yes,  that  was  the  plan,  but  my  thoughts  now 
take  a  different  course." 

"  Still,  a  professional  life  is  one  of  recognized 
standing,  in  many  respects  to  be  preferred  to  any 
other;"  and  by  this  time  Madge  had  gathered  up 
the  stray  music,  seated  herself  at  the  piano,  and 


22  DWELLERS  IN   GOTHAM. 

was  touching  the  keys  lightly  yet  perceptibly,  thus 
relieving  the  conversation  from  overseriousness. 

"Very  true,  my  wise  and  venerable  sister,  but 
the  matter  with  me  is  not  altogether  one  of  stand- 
ing." 

"What  is  it  then?" 

"  I  wish  you  could  answer  it  for  me,  for  I  most 
assuredly  cannot  answer  it  for  myself." 

"But  what  brought  this  change  about?  You 
know  what  papa  expects  and  how  disappointed  he 
will  be." 

"  Of  course  I  do,  and  I  am  sorry  for  him,  but  the 
fact  remains  that  I  have  no  inclination  whatever 
for  his  profession,  and,  moreover,  I  am  utterly  un 
fitted  for  it." 

"  Why,  how  can  that  be  ?  It  seems  to  me  that  you 
•were  *  born  in  the  purple,'  and  have  only  to  assume 
your  inheritance  in  due  season  ; "  and  now  Madge  had 
wheeled  around  from  the  piano  and  was  looking  ear 
nestly  at  her  brother. 

"  You  asked  me  a  moment  since,  Madge,  what  I 
was  going  to  do  with  myself,  and  the  whole  diffi 
culty  is  just  there.  It  is  the  '  myself '  which  em 
barrasses  me.  I  can  do  something  with  my  educa 
tion,  particularly  if  I  complete  the  course  which  was 
originally  intended.  I  can  do  something  with  my 
talents,  for  though  I  do  not  claim  any  remarkable 
gifts,  still  I  have  sense  enough  not  to  go  into  the 
napkin  business,  and  dig  a  hole  in  the  earth.  I  can 
do  something  with  my  opportunities,  for  there  are 
openings  possible  to  me  which  I  fully  appreciate ;  still 
the  question  of  'myself  remains  unanswered,  and 


SISTER  AND   BROTHER.  23 

that  is  the  question  which  troubles  me.  In  other 
words,  where  can  I  put  my  life  to  the  best  use,  so  that 
it  may  tell  upon  the  best  life  of  others  ?  is  the  prob 
lem  that  I  am  trying  to  solve,  and  I  confess  that  so 
far  I  am  baffled." 

Madge  was  startled.  She  had  never  seen  John 
in  any  such  mood  as  this.  Usually  he  was  light, 
easy,  bantering,  not  exactly  frivolous,  still  a  good 
deal  of  a  trifler,  and  disposed  generally  to  put  aside 
anything  that  was  serious.  But  he  was  serious  now  ; 
she  could  see  it  in  his  face,  hear  it  in  his  voice,  and 
feel  it  in  his  soul.  Still,  there  was  a  measure  of  im 
patience  in  both  her  face  and  tone  as  she  replied  : 

"  I  am  afraid  Mr.  Yaughen  has  had  something  to 
do  with  this.  Last  summer  I  wondered  if  his  influence 
was  just  the  right  sort  for  yon,  and  a  few  weeks 
since,  when  papa  was  speaking  of  some  notions  of 
yours,  I  put  the  whole  blame  upon  Mr.  Yaughen." 

"  Yaughen  !  "  and  here  John  allowed  the  grave, 
serious  look  to  pass  away  into  a  smile ;  "  the  dear  fel 
low  has  his  hobbies  and  theories,  but  there  is 
nothing  serious  in  either  them  or  himself.  Lots  of 
college  men  take  up  with  that  sort  of  thing.  Stubbs — 
his  father  is  a  banker,  one  of  the  most  careful  in 
the  city — would  divide  up  the  whole  business,  giv 
ing  share  and  share  alike,  after  the  manner  of  a 
certain  time  with  which  the  name  of  Ananias  is  un 
pleasantly  associated.  But  we  take  Stubbs  with  sun 
dry  grains  of  salt.  Knobbs  is  anxious  to  be  at  the 
head  of  a  '  community,'  but  Knobbs  is  at  heart  one 
of  the  most  exclusive  fellows  you  could  imagine.  He 
won't  travel  in  the  day  coach  of  a  common  train,  nor 


24  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

take  a  meal  in  a  public  restaurant,  or  do  anything 
that  will  bring  him  near  the  average  man ;  neverthe 
less  he  airs  himself  on  the  community  scheme  after  the 
manner  of  an  apostle.  Jenks  is  full  of  cooperation  ; 
tap  him  anywhere,  and  like  maple  trees  in  the  season 
trickling  with  sap,  so  he  trickles  with  cooperation. 
The  fact  that  his  father  is  at  the  head  of  a  big  trust, 
and  that  there  have  been  any  number  of  scandals 
connected  with  that  trust,  doesn't  affect  Jenks. 
Jenks  is  immense ;  I  don't  mean  in  size,  but  in  his 
own  opinion,  and  for  an  hour  now  and  then  he  is  rare 
sport." 

By  this  time,  John  was  the  gay  light-hearted  youth 
of  the  morning,  droll  in  his  own  inimitable  way, 
while  Madge  was  laughing  heartily. 

"  Madge,"  said  John,  a  few  minutes  later,  "  what 
say  you  to  a  run  to  Coney  Island  ?  We  can  get  a 
sniff  of  the  sea,  hear  some  music,  see  crowds  of 
people,  and  generally  enjoy  ourselves." 

"Coney  Island!  What  would  mamma  say,  or 
papa  ? " 

"  I  have  spoken  to  the  pater,  and  it  is  all  right. 
You  needn't  be  afraid  of  meeting  anyone.  The 
people  of  our  set  are  all  away.  We  can  take  the 
'  Elevated '  to  the  Battery  ;  there  get  a  boat  which  goes 
to  the  Iron  Pier,  and  see  something  of  a  world  which 
will  be  {is  new  to  you  as  the  one  discovered  by  Co 
lumbus." 

"  But,  John,  has  papa  really  given  his  consent  to 
my  going  ? " 

From  the  anxious  way  in  which  Madge  repeated 
this  question  it  was  very  evident  that  she  greatly 


SISTER  AND   BROTHER.  25 

desired  the  Bohemian  outing  which  John  proposed. 
Yet  she  was  not  quite  sure  that  Dr.  Disney  would 
fully  approve  of  it. 

"  If  you  hurry,  we  can  get  the  noon  boat,"  was 
John's  reply,  consulting  the  time-table  in  the  news 
paper. 

Madge  hurried,  and  they  were  in  good  time  for 
the  boat. 


26  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Mark  Brompton's  Nephew. 

^TOHN  DISNEY  had  no  intention  of  being  unjust 
\  to  Edward  Vaughen  when  lie  spoke  of  his 
QJ  "notions"  in  a  light  and  satiric  way,  and 
even  went  so  far  as  to  suggest  that  Vaughen  himself 
was  not  to  be  taken  seriously.  Nevertheless  he  was 
unjust,  though  unintentionally  so.  A  hurt  can  be 
both  severe  and  painful,  whether  through  inadvert 
ence  or  design.  That  ancient  fable  of  a  stone-throw 
ing  boy  and  an  expostulating  frog  has  applications  of 
various  kinds,  and  is  likely  to  have  for  a  long  time  to 
come.  The  way  in  which  we  misjudge  each  other  is 
one  of  life's  saddest  mysteries.  What  blunderers  we 
are!  How  coarse  and  dull  and  unfeeling!  With 
heavy,  hob-nailed  boots  we  trample  upon  the  delicate 
threads  and  lines  of  each  other's  hopes  and  aspira 
tions,  and  many  a  noble,  beautiful  life  has  been 
broken  and  crushed  under  our  pitiless  feet. 

The  trouble  with  Edward  Vaughen  was  not  lack  of 
seriousness.  Like  another  young  man  whose  name 
and  history  are  not  unknown,  he  was  a  dreamer ;  he 
had  a  vision  of  the  circling  stars  and  the  bending 
sheaves ;  his  imagination  clothed  itself  with  a  coat 
of  many  colors,  and  he  could  easily  see  a  future  in 
which  he  would  not  only  ride  in  a  chariot,  but  also 
be  hailed  as  the  friend  and  champion  of  suffering 
mankind.  Hence  he  was  vague,  deliciously,  refresh- 


MARK   BROMPTON'S   NEPHEW.  27 

ingly  vague.  Theories  as  beautiful  as  dewdrops 
sparkled  in  the  morning  sun  of  his  eager,  hopeful 
life.  The  eastern  sky  of  his  ambitions  was  flushing 
the  dull,  leaden  gray  and  tinting  the  somber  clouds 
with  a  glory  all  its  own. 

Ah !  we  who  are  older  and  wiser  may  have  but 
scant  sympathy  with  the  dreams  of  youth.  Yet 
there  are  times  when  some  of  us  would  gladly  ex 
change  much  of  our  worldly  wisdom  for  the  daring, 
the  eagerness,  the  enthusiasm  of  those  triumphant 
days  when  all  things  were  ours  and  when  life,  like 
clay  in  the  hands  of  the  potter,  could  be  molded  to 
our  wish. 

Yaughen's  theories  and  notions  were  not,  however, 
as  Madge  somewhat  flippantly  suggested,  a  mere  fad 
taken  up  for  the  time  being ;  they  were  his  by  in 
heritance  ;  he  was  born  into  them ;  indeed,  so  conscious 
was  he  of  this  possession  that  long  before  full  man 
hood  was  attained  he  had  entered  upon  this  estate. 

The  little  town  of  Eastwich  said  that  Thomas 
Vaughen,  Edward's  father,  was  a  very  singular  man, 
and  Eastwich  knew  what  it  was  talking  about,  for 
Thomas  Yaughen  had  not  only  been  born  and  brought 
up  there,  but  had  lived  there  all  his  life,  and  was  now 
buried  in  the  little  well-kept  cemetery  with  which 
everyone  in  Eastwich  was  so  familiar. 

"  He  might  have  been  one  of  the  richest  men  in 
the  county,"  remarked  Mr.  Ragsby,  the  owner  of 
the  Eastwich  paper  mill  and  a  man  of  much  local 
prominence,  to  Lawyer  Salvage,  as  they  rode  together 
on  the  day  of  Thomas  Yaughen's  funeral. 

"  He  was  one  of  the  kindest  and  most  generous 
3 


28  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

men  I  ever  knew,"  said  Deacon  Calvin  to  his  neigh 
bor,  Squire  Calendar,  a  vestryman  of  St.  John's,  as 
they  followed  in  the  next  carriage. 

"  He  was  as  brave  as  a  lion  and  as  tender  as  a 
woman,"  one  Grand  Army  man  said  to  another,  as 
the  little  company  went  to  the  funeral  of  their  com 
rade. 

It  was  a  lovely  afternoon,  and  all  Eastwich  had 
gathered  in  the  cemetery,  and  under  that  sky  which 
seemed  as  a  dome  of  infinite  depth  arching  into  the 
uttermost  heavens,  never  were  words  more  impressive 
and  thrilling — "And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven 
saying  unto  me,  Write,  Blessed  are  the  dead  which 
die  in  the  Lord." 

Mrs.  Yaughen  was  a  woman  of  much  strength  and 
quality  of  mind,  and  also  of  corresponding  strength 
and  quality  of  heart ;  hence  outwardly  she  bore  her 
sorrow  and  bereavement  with  such  quietness  as  to 
cause  some  surprise,  for  her  married  life  had  been  one 
of  rare  sweetness  and  peace. 

Mrs.  Paletot,  the  chief  milliner  and  dressmaker  of 
Eastwich,  was  almost  grieved  at  the  simple  character 
of  Mrs.  Vaughen's  mourning ;  still  it  would  be  unfair 
to  Mrs.  Paletot  to  insinuate  that  this  had  anything 
to  do  with  her  remark  to  Mrs.  Cutler,  whose  husband 
kept  the  grocery  and  hardware  store: 

"  Mrs.  Vaughen  may  be  in  deep  trouble,  but  she 
doesn't  show  much  of  it  on  either  her  gown  or  bon 
net." 

Mrs.  Marble,  the  wife  of  the  tombstone  and  epitaph 
man,  whispered  around  that  it  was  only  the  very 
plainest  tablet,  with  just  the  name  cut  upon  it,  that 


MARK  BROMPTON'S  NEPHEW.         29 

was  ordered,  "hardly  enough  to  be  even  respectful 
to  such  a  man  as  Thomas  Yanghen." 

These  tender  and  sympathetic  remarks,  with  others 
of  equal  sweetness  and  beauty,  were  repeated,  passed 
on,  and  duly  commented  upon,  but  Mrs.  Yaughen's 
sad,  sweet  face  gave  no  indication  of  the  feelings  of 
her  neighbors  and  friends. 

The  woman  who  can  command  herself  in  such  times 
as  these,  who  does  not  bring  out  her  heart  so  as  to 
exhibit  its  flutterings,  its  throbbings,  its  quiverings ; 
who  does  not  make  piteous  appeals  for  sympathy, 
and  with  tear-shot  voice  and  tear-stained  eye  call  upon 
the  emotions  of  her  friends — she,  poor  soul,  will  be 
adjudged  as  lacking  in  tenderness,  and  will  be 
harshly  pronounced  upon,  chiefly,  however,  by  those 
of  her  own  sex. 

At  the  time  suggested  by  the  opening  of  our  story 
Mrs.  Yanghen  received  a  letter,  the  contents  of  which 
may  help  us  somewhat : 

"NEW  YOKK,  June  20. 

"  MY  DEAR  MARY  :  I  was  glad  to  learn  through  a 
note  from  Edward  of  the  completion  of  his  college 
course  and  his  desire  to  enter  upon  a  business  life. 

"  Let  rue  suggest  his  coming  to  me  at  as  early  a 
date  as  may  be  convenient.  I  wish  I  could  persuade 
you  to  come  at  the  same  time. 

"  Augusta  and  the  girls  are  abroad.  Percy  is  with 
some  friends  on  a  yachting  trip.  Some  things  re 
quire  my  attention  in  the  city,  and  as  I  am  alone 
your  coming  with  Edward  would  really  be  a  great 
favor.  Your  affectionate  brother, 

"  MARK  BROMPTON." 


30  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

Mark  was  Mrs.  Yaughen's  only  brother,  and  her 
senior  by  several  years.  When  only  a  lad  he  had 
gone  to  New  York,  and  by  dint  of  the  hardest  kind 
of  hard  work  gradually  made  his  way,  so  that  now 
he  was  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  largest  houses  in 
the  city.  He  was  not  one  of  the  fortunate  boys  who 
find  an  Aladdin's  lamp  or  a  vizier's  ring.  He  had 
no  unknown  benefactor  who  secured  for  him  posi 
tions  of  honor  and  trust.  He  was  no  youthful  hero, 
who  in  peril  of  his  life  sprang  at  the  reins  of  the 
frightened  horses  who  were  tearing  madly  down  the 
street  and  with  the  strength  of  a  Hercules  brought 
them  to  a  standstill,  thus  saving  the  life  of  the  mil 
lionaire  and  his  lovely  daughter,  completing  the 
romance  by  marrying  the  aforesaid  daughter  in  due 
time.  There  was  nothing  romantic  about  Mark 
Brompton  He  just  kept  plodding  along  in  the  ordi 
nary,  common  way — messenger  boy,  office  boy,  junior 
clerk,  and  so  on  step  by  step,  always  cool,  always 
shrewd, carefully  considering  what  was  best, eminently 
practical,  rigid  in  his  economies,  rendering  good 
service  but  expecting  full  reward,  and  ever  watchful 
of  his  own  interests.  With  him  business  was  busi 
ness,  business  all  the  time,  and  business  with  a  profit. 
He  was  honest,  but  he  was  hard  ;  he  kept  his  word, 
but  he  insisted  upon  the  other  man  keeping  his ;  he 
paid  promptly,  but  never  more  than  was  written  in 
the  bond,  nor  would  he  receive  less.  In  his  office  he 
knew  neither  friendship  nor  sentiment,  and  to  all 
seeming  had  no  more  heart  than  an  automatic  calcu 
lator.  At  the  proper  time  he  married,  and  the 
proper  time  with  him  was  not  when  his  heart  was 


MARK  BROMPTON'S  NEPHEW.         31 

young,  but  when  he  had  attained  such  standing  as 
gave  him  access  to  homes  of  solidity  and  wealth ; 
hence  when  he  asked  Augusta  Glenville  to  become 
his  wife  he  was  fully  aware  that  she  would  not  be  a 
portionless  bride.  And  so  he  went  on  from  prosper 
ing  to  prosper. 

When  Thomas  Yaughen  died  Mark  Brompton 
went  to  Eastwich  not  only  to  attend  the  funeral  and 
be  present  with  his  sister  in  her  sorrow,  but  also  to 
arrange  her  affairs  and  give  her  such  assistance  as 
was  necessary.  There  was  not  much,  however,  to 
arrange,  for  Thomas  Yaughen  had  spent  his  life  in 
laying  up  treasure  "  where  neither  moth  nor  rust 
doth  corrupt ; "  still  with  characteristic  unselfishness 
he  had  provided  against  his  wife  being  dependent, 
so  that  with  the  sale  of  the  business  her  income  was 
enough  for  her  simple  needs.  Nothing  would  induce 
her  to  leave  Eastwich ;  that  pathetic  hillock  in  the 
little  churchyard  made  the  whole  place  sacred  to  her 
and  claimed  her  presence  and  care. 

But  while  Mark  Brompton  could  not  quite  under 
stand  the  fine  feeling  which  prompted  the  refusal  of 
his  sister  to  leave  Eastwich,  yet  in  a  measure  he  was 
relieved,  for  her  coming  to  New  York  would  involve 
certain  family  embarrassments  which  he  was  anxious 
to  avoid.  He  arranged,  however,  to  send  Edward 
to  college,  and  promised  to  open  his  way  in  the  city 
afterward.  With  his  usual  faithfulness  he  carried 
out  his  part  of  the  compact,  and  while  Edward  could 
not  speak  with  enthusiasm  of  his  uncle's  generosity, 
still  Mr.  Brompton  was  fairly  entitled  to  respect  and 
consideration  for  what  he  had  done. 


32  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  V. 
A   Bohemian   Outing. 

THOSE  who  are  not  familiar  with  New  York 
imagine  that  in  the  summer  the  heat  is 
simply  intolerable,  and  that  no  one  remains 
in  the  city  who  can  possibly  get  away.  It  is  true 
that  in  certain  sections  uptown  it  would  seem  as  if 
this  idea  was  the  correct  one,  for  there  are  whole 
blocks  of  houses  and  almost  blocks  of  streets  where 
every  shutter  is  closed,  every  blind  is  drawn,  every 
door  is  boarded  up,  and  where  it  is  very  evident  that 
a  general  exodus  has  taken  place.  The  favored  resi 
dents  of  these  select  and  fashionable  regions  could 
not  dream  of  exposing  themselves  to  the  horrors  of 
a  New  York  summer ;  hence  trunks  are  packed, 
boxes  are  strapped,  trains  are  laden,  steamers  are 
filled,  and  away  go  the  "  four  hundred,"  leaving  the 
city  desolate  and  forsaken.  Possibly  the  population 
of  the  city  is  not  perceptibly  affected,  but  people 
should  be  weighed  as  well  as  counted,  and  what  are 
numbers  as  compared  with  quality?  East  Side 
Gothamites  are  not  of  much  account  except  by  cen 
sus  takers ;  the  real  dwellers  in  Gotham  are  in  the 
uptown  regions.  According  to  the  standard  of  the 
chosen  ones,  in  July  New  York  is  simply  empty. 

Newspapers  are  published,  but  what  do  they  chron 
icle  other  than  reports  from  the  distant  resorts — 
Mrs.  McFlimsie's  dinner  party  in  honor  of  the 


A   BOHEMIAN    OUTING.  33 

Marquis  Tete  de  Bois ;  the  engagement  of  Miss 
Nam  by  Pam  to  Count  Spaghetti;  the  fancy  ball 
under  the  direction  of  the  Von  der  Plonks,  and  such 
other  mighty  and  thrilling  events  ? 

The  great  stores  also  keep  open,  but  they  sell 
only  common  things  to  the  common  people,  of  whom 
there  seem  as  many  as  ever,  which  only  proves  how 
much  plebeianism  there  is  even  in  Gotham. 

It  is  true  also  that  most  of  the  churches  observe 
regular  service,  but  in  the  select  neighborhoods  the 
ministerial  "  understudy  "  meets  the  full  necessities 
of  the  case,  for  why  should  the  eloquent  sermons  of 
the  regular  incumbent  be  spent  upon  the  few  unfor 
tunate  ones  who  cannot  escape  from  the  metropolis  ? 

It  is  very  probable  that  the  fact  of  "  everyone  be 
ing  out  of  town  "  weighed  in  Madge  Disney's  mind 
when  she  consented  to  accompany  her  brother  to 
Coney  Island,  for  she  was  morally  certain  that  none 
of  her  friends  was  within  even  a  hundred  miles  of 
the  city.  Still  she  had  certain  qualms,  though  in 
strict  truth  they  were  not  of  conscience,  but  rather  a 
fear  of  the  proprieties. 

It  is  singular,  but  true  withal,  that  there  are  those 
with  whom  propriety  is  a  stronger  deterrent  than 
conscience.  If  the  Ten  Commandments  could  only 
be  adopted  and  accepted  as  part  of  the  social  code, 
the  moral  law  might  secure  more  generous  recogni 
tion.  For  the  social  code  not  only  demands  but  in 
sists  upon  obedience,  and  one  must  either  be  very 
rich  or  very  handsome  who  will  defy  its  mandates. 
With  a  sway  that  is  absolute  it  prescribes  the  length 
of  a  horse's  tail,  the  cut  of  a  woman's  gown,  the 


34  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

shape  of  a  man's  hat,  and  woe  betide  those  who  dis 
obey  1 

No  wonder,  therefore,  that  Madge  felt  anxious  and 
uncomfortable,  and  if  a  telegram  had  come  from  her 
mother,  or  her  father  unexpectedly  returned,  she 
would  have  gladly  put  aside  her  promise  to  John  and 
inwardly  rejoiced  at  her  deliverance. 

But  no  relief  came ;  John  was  impatient  to  be  off, 
and  so  Madge  went,  but  her  first  sensations  were  any 
thing  but  pleasant. 

After  reaching  the  boat  and  being  comfortably 
seated  Madge  looked  cautiously  around  and  discov 
ered,  very  much  to  her  satisfaction,  that  her  fellow- 
travelers  were  not  such  barbarians  as  she  had  feared. 
Many  of  them  were  just  as  well  dressed  and  as  lady 
like  as  she  was,  and  some  of  the  young  men  would 
compare  favorably  with  even  her  own  handsome 
brother.  Among  the  younger  groups  there  was  pos 
sibly  a  little  more  hilarity  than  some  would  approve 
of,  and  more  than  once  a  laugh  that  might  be  called 
boisterous,  but  when  John  suggested  that  to  most  of 
these  people  such  an  outing  as  this  meant  an  escape 
from  the  stifling  store,  the  cooped-up  office,  the 
noise,  the  din,  the  heat,  and  the  general  restraint 
under  which  so  much  of  their  lives  was  spent,  she 
soon  found  herself  not  only  framing  excuses  for 
their  rather  zealous  pleasure-making,  but  even  once 
or  twice  she  could  not  forbear  a  smile  at  some  bright 
repartee  or  quaint  saying  spoken  loud  enough  for 
her  to  overhear. 

Others  impressed  her  as  belonging  more  particu 
larly  to  the  artisan  class,  for  their  clothes  sat  rather 


A   BOHEMIAN    OUTING.  35 

consciously  and  indicated  an  unfamiliarity  with  the 
daily  life  of  the  wearer.  A  certain  swarthy  neck 
undoubtedly  resented  a  stiff  collar  ;  the  well-shaped, 
sturdy  head  felt  the  strain  of  a  close-fitting  hat ;  the 
brawny,  rugged  shoulders  chafed  under  the  restraints 
of  a  fairly  made  coat ;  but  the  man  was  genuine ; 
that  Madge  could  see  in  the  care  which  he  took  of  his 
little  children,  and  the  affection  with  which  he  re 
garded  their  mother,  a  pale,  sad-faced  woman,  who 
looked  wistfully  upon  the  sea,  thinking,  doubtless,  of 
her  early  home  far  across  the  ocean. 

One  group  after  the  other  came  within  the  reach 
of  Madge's  clear  gray  but  kindly  eyes,  and  concern 
ing  each  group  she  had  many  wonderings  and  imag 
inings. 

But  who  can  describe  a  boatload  of  passengers  on 
the  way  to  Coney  Island  ?  For  it  surely  includes  all 
sorts  and  conditions  of  men,  women,  and  children — 
children  with  tiny  pails  and  shovels  for  service  in 
the  sand ;  children  with  whips  and  balloons  and 
mouths  smeared  with  colored  candy ;  children  who 
cry  and  scream  until  one  sighs  for  the  fog  horn ; 
children  who  are  sweet  and  pretty,  sleeping  most  of 
the  way  through ;  then  the  women  with  babies  and 
the  women  without  babies ;  the  women  with  hus 
bands  and  the  women  without  husbands  ;  the  women 
who  have  nice  frocks  and  the  women  who  have  nice 
faces  ;  then  the  men  who  are  out  for  a  frolic  and  the 
men  who  are  out  with  their  families ;  the  men  to 
whom  the  occasion  is  one  which  they  enjoy  with 
their  wives  and  children  ;  the  men  who  are  reckless 
and  selfish,  wasting  both  the  day  and  themselves. 


36  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

People  of  varied  language  and  of  varied  life — men 
from  the  mill,  the  shop,  the  foundry,  the  yard  ;  men 
who  have  just  laid  down  the  hammer,  tlie  trowel,  the 
shears,  the  pen  ;  women  from  the  store,  the  desk,  the 
sewing  machine,  the  typewriter ;  women  who  have 
escaped  from  the  burden,  the  toil,  the  care,  the 
drudgery — what  a  comfort  it  is  that  once  in  a  while 
they  can  get  out  and  see  God's  sky,  look  upon  God's 
sea,  and  feel  something  of  the  light  and  joy  of  life! 
A  very  world  is  a  Coney  Island  steamer ;  more  of  a 
world  even  than  an  ocean  steamship,  for  it  usually 
carries  but  two  classes — the  saloon  and  the  steerage — 
whereas  a  Coney  Island  boat  is  a  world  in  miniature. 
Down  the  harbor,  with  the  Statue  of  Liberty  stand 
ing  out  in  all  its  mighty  proportions ;  through  the 
Narrows,  with  the  hills  of  Staten  Island  on  the  one 
hand  and  the  less  pretentious  Bay  Ridge  on  the 
other,  the  steamer  made  its  way,  and  ere  long  the 
varied  and  nondescript  architecture  of  the  famous 
resort  came  in  view.  The  pier  was  reached  in  due 
time,  and  the  impatient  passengers  were  soon  a  part 
of  the  great  host  who  swarmed  everywhere.  The 
first  feeling  that  possessed  Madge  was  that  of  utter 
bewilderment.  Had  she  come  from  a  distant  planet 
she  could  hardly  have  been  in  a  world  with  which 
she  was  less  familiar.  There  were  swings  to  right 
of  her,  swings  to  left  of  her ;  flying  horses  with 
calliope  attachment,  making  noise  enough  to  suit  a 
Bedlamite  ;  toboggans  where  the  heavy-laden  cars 
made  a  rush  and  roar  like  a  train  passing  over  a  trestle- 
work  bridge,  but  neither  rush  nor  roar  could  drown 
the  screams  and  laughter  of  the  tobogganers,  bump- 


A    BOHEMIAN    OUTING.  37 

ing  and  thumping  on  their  way ;  boats  which  hung 
on  chains  and  iron  rods,  with  motion  enough  to  ter 
rify  the  most  hardened  traveler,  within  which  very 
uncomfortable-looking  people  tried  to  imagine  that 
they  really  enjoyed  it ;  shows  in  tents  and  shows  in 
booths,  where  from  the  platform  men  with  throats  of 
boiler  iron  and  lungs  of  extra  leather  were  inviting 
the  passing  throngs  to  witness  the  marvelous  exhibi 
tions  which  were  "  just  about  to  begin ; "  shooting 
galleries,  where  every  few  minutes  might  be  heard 
the  ting  of  a  bell,  indicating  that  some  fortunate 
youth  had  succeeded  in  hitting  one  of  those  elusive 
marks  at  which  so  many  aim  in  vain.  All  these,  and 
countless  other  things  as  well,  mingled  with  the  beat 
ing  of  drums,  the  blowing  of  horns,  the  cries  of  vend 
ers  of  everything  imaginable,  startled  Madge  so  that 
finally  she  looked  from  one  thing  to  the  other  with  a 
helplessness  that  was  simply  pitiful. 

"  Let  us  go  down  to  the  beach,"  said  John,  when 
he  saw  that  Madge  was  a  little  weary ;  "  we  can  get 
chairs  there,  and  you  will  have  a  chance  to  rest." 

"  But,  John,  where  did  all  these  people  come 
from  ?  "  gasped  Madge,  with  the  look  of  wonder  fill 
ing  her  eyes  and  face,  for  the  crowd  had  a  peculiar 
influence  upon  her.  It  was  by  no  means  a  drunken, 
noisy,  reckless  crowd,  but  sober,  orderly,  respectable, 
and  in  bearing  and  appearance  would  compare  most 
favorably,  too,  with  the  crowds  of  London  or  Paris  or 
Berlin.  Madge  was  very  deeply  impressed,  for  she 
was  quick  and  sensitive,  and  the  sight  of  these  tens 
of  thousands  moved  her  most  strangely. 

"My   dear   girl,"  replied   John,   "these   are  the 


38  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

bread  makers  of  the  city  in  which  you  live.  All 
week  they  have  been  at  work  tending  the  ovens; 
their  arms  have  been  spattered  with  flour,  their  hands 
covered  with  dough,  and  they  are  now  enjoying  the 
half  holiday  which  makes  life  just  bearable  for  many 
of  them." 

"  Bread  makers !  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  for  John's 
figurative  form  of  speech  was  not  quite  clear  always, 
even  to  his  sister. 

"  O  !  I  don't  mean  that  all  these  people  are  pastry 
cooks  or  bakers  ;  they  are  the  workers,  the  mechanics, 
the  clerks,  the  real  bread  winners  of  New  York. 
These  are  the  common  people  of  whom  you  read  in 
books,  the  books  written  mostly  by  men  who  never 
saw  the  common  people.  These  are  the  masses  who 
are  studied  by  our  social  economists  as  a  geologist 
studies  specimens — stratified  and  labeled  in  proper 
order." 

By  this  time  they  had  come  to  the  beach,  which 
was  crowded  with  men  and  women  and  children,  en 
joying  to  the  full  the  delicious  breeze  which  came 
in  strongly  from  the  open  sea,  while  a  goodly  com 
pany,  much  to  the  amusement  of  the  onlookers, 
splashed  and  frolicked  in  the  big  breakers  as  they 
rolled  in  from  the  broad  Atlantic.  Madge  now  was 
quite  at  ease  concerning  the  matter  of  recognition, 
for  the  more  she  studied  the  people  the  more  con 
fident  she  was  that  none  of  her  friends  were  in  such 
a  place ;  hence  she  gratefully  accepted  the  chair 
which  John  secured,  and  with  simple,  girlish  democ 
racy  was  entering  into  the  novelty  and  amusement  of 
her  surroundings,  when  all  at  once  John  said  : 


A   BOHEMIAN   OUTING.  39 

"  Why,  there  is  Dunbar !  Excuse  me  for  a  mo 
ment,"  disappearing  as  he  spoke,  returning,  how 
ever,  almost  immediately,  bringing  with  him  a  young 
man  of  perhaps  twenty-five  years  of  age,  tall,  fairly 
good-looking,  and  though  not  in  the  orthodox  garb  of 
a  clergy  man,  yet  John  introduced  him  to  Madge  as 
"  the  Kev.  Hugh  Dunbar." 


40  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
A  Reverend   Radical. 

u  "T  T*  "\ELL !  I  certainly  did  not  expect  to  see  you 

\/\y  down  here,"  John  said  to  Mr.  Dunbar, 
after  a  few  moments  spent  in  the  ordi 
nary  greetings. 

"  Why  not  ? "  responded  Mr.  Dunbar,  regarding 
John  with  a  pleasant  smile. 

"I  thought  that  clergymen  were  not  in  sympathy 
with  the  pomps  and  vanities  of  such  places  as  these," 
returned  John. 

"  But  '  pomps  and  vanities,'  as  you  call  them,  are 
not  necessarily  associated  with  *  such  places  as  these,' " 
Mr.  Dunbar  replied.  "  People  who  have  spent  all 
their  week  in  the  hot  city  are  to  be  commended  for 
coming  here  and  getting  a  breath  of  the  sea.  O,  how 
delicious  it  is ! "  as  just  then  a  cool  wave  swept 
through  the  air,  tempering  the  hot  sun  and  causing 
almost  everyone  to  turn  gratefully  to  the  open  sea, 
from  whence  the  life  and  vigor  came  so  richly. 

"I  had  an  impression,"  John  went  on,  accompany 
ing  the  words  with  a  look  and  smile  which  Mr. 
Dunbar  seemed  to  perfectly  understand,  "  that  you 
1  brethren  of  the  cloth '  were  usually  invisible  on 
Saturdays,  so  as  to  be  incomprehensible  on  Sundays." 

"  I  see  you  are  the  same  Disney.  Your  sister  here 
may  not  be  aware  that  from  the  magnificent  altitudes 
of  my  senior  year  I  beheld  in  the  valley  of  the  fresh- 


A    REVEREND    RADICAL.  41 

man  this  youth  of  much  verdancy  and  small  promise, 
whose  helplessness  and  innocence  touched  me  very 
deeply,"  was  Dunbar's  response,  meanwhile  turning 
his  large,  expressive  eyes,  full  of  genuine  mirth,  upon 
Madge,  his  earnest,  almost  sad-looking  face  lighted  up 
with  a  rich  smile. 

"All  of  which  translated  into  the  vernacular  means 
that  Mr.  Dunbar  was  in  his  last  year  when  I  entered 
college  and  that  we  became  good  friends,"  replied 
John. 

The  spot  chosen  by  John  for  a  few  minutes'  halt 
ing  place  was  quite  a  little  distance  from  the  crowd, 
and  as  the  tide  was  now  receding,  carrying  with  it 
the  heavy  fringe  of  spectators,  our  friends  were  com 
paratively  alone.  At  John's  suggestion  Mr.  Dunbar 
and  himself  sat  down  upon  the  sand,  of  which  at 
Coney  Island  there  is  enough  and  to  spare.  The 
young  men  soon  drifted  into  easy  and  familiar  con 
versation,  though  Madge  was  not  altogether  pleased 
at  Mr.  Dunbar's  quiet  acceptance  of  himself  as  a 
member  of  the  Disney  party.  Her  coolness,  how 
ever,  in  nowise  affected  Mr.  Dunbar,  except  that 
now  and  then  he  looked  at  her  with  a  quick,  keen, 
curious  glance ;  for  though  his  eyes,  as  a  rule,  were 
kindly,  at  times  they  gleamed  sharply  and  searched 
deeply. 

"  Then  you  have  a  parish  ? "  John  said  in  response 
to  a  remark  of  Mr.  Dunbar. 

"  Yes,  if  you  can  call  it  so,"  answered  Dunbar. 

"  In  the  city  ? "  questioned  Madge,  who  felt  as  if 
she  ought,  in  courtesy  to  her  brother,  at  any  rate,  to 
show  some  interest  in  his  friend. 


42  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"  Yes,  in  the  city,  but  that  is  not  very  definite 
even  to  myself,  for  I  have  quite  recently  taken  service 
in  an  East  Side  mission." 

An  East  Side  clergyman  suggested  very  little  to 
Madge  beyond  a  superior  kind  of  tract  distributer  or 
superintendent  of  some  charitable  institution,  and  as 
she  thought  of  Mr.  Dunbar  associated  with  such  work 
she  wondered  at  John's  very  evident  regard  for  him. 
It  may  have  been  the  breeze,  which  was  now  blowing 
stronger  and  cooler  every  moment,  but  a  distinct 
chill  came  upon  her  face,  and  there  was  something 
in  the  curl  of  her  lips  which,  to  say  the  least,  was 
suggestive.  Again  Mr.  Dunbar  flashed  upon  her 
one  of  his  keen,  searching  looks,  a  look  of  which  she 
was  conscious,  though  at  the  same  moment  she 
seemed  to  be  absorbed  in  watching  a  vessel  far  out 
at  sea. 

"  Then  you  have  entered  upon  your  work  ? "  put  in 
John,  who  knew  nothing  of  the  soul  collisions  which 
were  taking  place  so  near  him,  and  whose  only  in 
terest  for  the  time  centered  in  Dunbar. 

"I  am  experimenting  before  reaching  definite 
conclusions." 

"  You  don't  mean  by '  experimenting '  hospital  and 
dispensary  work  of  the  same  type  necessary  to  young 
doctors,  preparatory  to  a  church  with  a  big  steeple 
and  a  Yanity  Fair  congregation  ?"  laughed  John. 
"  Such  practice  is  doubtless  necessary,  but  it  is  hard 
on  those  who  have  to  endure  it." 

"  There  is  some  truth,  unfortunately,  in  your  idea, 
but  other  things  than  those  you  suggest  have  influ 
enced  me ; "  this  very  quietly,  but  earnestly. 


A   REVEREND   RADICAL.  43 

"  Let  us  get  back  to  first  principles,"  said  John, 
"  and  ask,  if  I  may,  what  are  you  doing  down  here  ? 
for  I  assured  my  sister  before  leaving  home  that  we 
would  not  meet  a  solitary  friend  or  even  remote 
acquaintance  the  whole  afternoon,  and  yet  here  in  the 
midst  of  the  throng  we  find  you." 

"  Before  answering  your  question  may  I  venture 
to  hope  that  this  accidental  meeting  will  not  interfere 
with  Miss  Disney's  enjoyment,"  Mr.  Dunbar  cour 
teously  but  gravely  replied,  for  he  was  fully 
aware  of  certain  unpleasant  movements  in  Madge's 
mind. 

"  You  will  pardon  me,  Mr.  Dunbar,  if  I  take  ex 
ception  to  your  use  of  the  word  '  enjoyment '  so  far 
as  it  relates  to  me.  Seeing  you  are  a  clergyman, 
perhaps  it  is  only  proper  for  me  to  confess  that  it 
was  simply  a  spirit  of  adventure  which  brought  me 
here.  My  brother  was  anxious  to  have  me  come, 
nor  am  I  sorry  that  I  did  so ;  still  my  enjoyments 
are  not  altogether  of  this  order."  Here  Madge  pro 
duced  what  John  called  her  "  shot-tower  effect,"  so 
that  when  her  words  reached  Mr.  Dunbar  they  \vere 
hard  and  glittering  like  tiny  bullets.  Once  more  the 
searching  eyes  of  Mr.  Dunbar  looked  out  from  under 
their  heavy  brows,  and  once  more  Madge  watched 
with  intense  interest  a  trail  of  smoke  as  of  some  in 
coming  ocean  steamer. 

"Your  question,  Disney,  is  easily  answered.  I 
came  down  here  to  see  my  brothers  and  sisters  and 
enjoy  part  of  the  day  with  them." 

"  Then  you  still  remain  an  apostle  of  the  Brother 
hood  \ "  John  said.  "  I  thought  those  were  mostly 


44  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 

college  notions,  and  that  when  men  got  through  they 
left  them  as  a  legacy  to  the  incoming  class." 

"  Not  always." 

"  Of  course  there  are  exceptions." 

"  Yes,  and  many  exceptions." 

"  But  do  not  some  men  take  these  things  up  as  fads 
and  fancies  ? " 

"  Undoubtedly,  but  they  soon  become  much  more 
unless  the  men  who  take  them  up  are  fads  and  fancies 
themselves." 

"You  evidently  have  taken  them  up  in  dead 
earnest." 

"  No,  they  have  taken  me  up  in  dead  earnest." 

"  I  do  not  quite  understand." 

"  The  fault  is  mine,  but " — and  with  this  he  turned 
to  Miss  Disney,  whose  eyes  were  still  upon  the  sea — 
but  who  had  heard  every  word  of  the  conversation, 
"  it  is  not  fair  of  me  to  monopolize  the  afternoon  with 
matters  which  are  largely  personal." 

"But  these  things  are  not  personal,"  persisted 
John ;  "  they  have  a  deep  interest  for  me,  and  the 
problems  in  which  I  find  myself  are  both  serious  and 
difficult. " 

"  That  I  am  glad  to  hear.  It  is  only  the  man  who 
does  not  think,  and  who  is  selfishly  content  with 
things  as  they  are,  who  is  not  troubled.  How  any 
man  can  face  the  conditions  of  this  age  and  this 
country  without  feeling  the  burden  and  the  mystery 
can  hardly  be  reconciled  with  a  sound  mind,  certainly 
not  with  a  clear  conscience." 

This  time  Mr.  Dunbar  did  not  look  at  Madge, 
though  she  certainly  was  a  very  attractive  picture, 


A   REVEREND    RADICAL.  45 

for  the  clear  sky  seemed  to  reflect  itself  in  her  eyes, 
the  breeze  had  brought  a  tinge  of  color  into  her  fresh 
young  face,  and  if  Mr.  Dunbar  had  looked  at  her  no 
one  would  have  blamed  him.  But  he  looked  along 
the  beach  down  to  the  Iron  Pier,  then  turned  the 
other  way  only  to  see  multitudes  of  those  whom  he 
called  his  "  brothers  and  sisters." 

"  He  is  positively  worse  than  Edward  Yaughen," 
Madge  said  to  herself,  "  and  he,  goodness  knows,  is 
bad  enough." 

"No  wonder  John  has  all  sorts  of  notions,"  she 
went  on  with  her  unspoken  thoughts;  "what  with 
Edward  Yaughen  and  this  Mr.  Dnnbar,  they  have 
filled  my  brother's  head  with  the  most  absurd  fan 
cies." 

"John,"  she  said,  after  a  few  minutes,  when  there 
was  a  lull  in  the  conversation,  "  is  it  not  time  that 
we  were  going  ?  " 

It  was  a  simple  and  natural  question,  but  there 
was  that  in  the  tone  which  made  it  abrupt,  if,  indeed, 
not  ungracious.  This  time  just  the  faintest  gleam  of 
amusement  stole  upon  Mr.  Dunbar's  face,  for  he  under 
stood  the  question  as  a  polite  dismissal.  Madge  saw 
the  shadow  of  the  smile,  and  it  provoked  her,  for 
she  knew  then  that  her  intent  was  discovered.  She 
tried  to  cover  up  her  failure  with  an  invitation  for 
Mr.  Dnnbar  to  return  with  them,  and  when  he 
declined  she  was  quite  solicitous  that  he  call  upon 
Dr.  Disney  and  give  -them  opportunity  of  hearing 
further  of  his  work. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  ease  and  graceful  dignity 
of  Mr.  Dunbar's  leave-taking,  but  somehow  it  seemed 


46  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

to  Madge  as  though  a  spirit  of  mischief  lurked  in  his 
eyes  and  as  if  he  had  come  off  the  better  in  their 
silent  contest. 

"  Your  friend,  whatever  his  notions  may  be,  has 
the  manners  of  a  gentleman,"  she  said  to  John,  after 
Mr.  Dunbar  had  gone. 

"  That  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,"  was  the  reply, 
more  curtly,  too,  than  was  John's  wont  with  Madge. 

"  You  don't  mean  to  insinuate  that  because  he  was 
favored  with  your  graceful  and  dignified  example  for 
a  year  he  must  therefore  be  a  gentleman  all  the  rest 
of  his  life,"  she  playfully  responded ;  for  though  she 
could  not  see  any  disturbance  in  her  brother's  mind 
she  felt  it,  and  it  annoyed  and,  if  anything,  made 
her  more  provoked  with  Mr.  Dunbar  as  the  cause 
of  it. 

"  No,  but  if  you  put  it  the  other  way,  you  will 
reach  a  more  correct  view  of  the  case." 

"What  do  you  mean?  Mr.  Dunbar  is  nothing 
but  an  East  Side  clergyman,  probably  one  of  those 
unfortunates  for  whom  Dr.  Bland  pleads  so  earnestly 
on  Mission  Sunday." 

"  You  poor,  misguided  creature,"  John  said,  pity 
ingly.  "  Dunbar  is  rich  enough  to  endow  Dr.  Bland 
and  a  dozen  others  beside.  He  is  also  of  one  of  the 
best  families  we  have,  while  he  himself  is  as  true  a 
man  as  lives." 

It  must  be  conceded  that  though  John  was  Madge's 
"  own  and  only  brother  "  he  took  evident  satisfaction 
in  making  this  reply,  and  even  all  the  more  when  he 
saw  its  effect  upon  her. 

Poor  Madge!      She  now  understood  the  lurking 


A   REVEREND   RADICAL-  47 

mischief  in  Mr.  Dnnbar's  eyes  and  the  ghost  of  a 
smile  with  which  lie  had  taken  his  dismissal. 

"  Why,  I  thought  he  was  a  socialist,"  she  hastily 
replied,  anxious  to  find  something  by  way  of  exten 
uation. 

"  Yes,  but  not  the  sort  of  socialist  that  you  mean, 
nor  the  sort  that  a  great  many  mean.  I  don't  under 
stand  why  lie  has  taken  up  the  work  he  is  now  in  ; 
but  one  thing  certain,  he  is  thoroughly  in  earnest." 

The  afternoon  was  now  well  advanced,  and  Madge 
suggested  that  it  was  time  to  return  home,  when  John 
said: 

"  Father  has  a  special  engagement  for  this  evening, 
and  when  I  spoke  of  our  coming  down  here  he  pro 
posed  that  we  remain  at  Manhattan  Beach  for  din 
ner.  This  side  trip  of  ours  was  not,  however,  on 
his  program,  and  perhaps  we  had  better  say  noth 
ing  about  it." 

They  went  over  to  Manhattan  Beach  by  rail,  mak 
ing  the  run  in  a  few  minutes,  and  there  found  a 
crowd  proportionately  as  great  as  the  one  which  they 
had  jnst  left.  Though  not  yet  the  fashionable  hour 
for  dining,  the  tables  on  the  long,  wide  piazzas  of 
the  "  Manhattan "  were  crowded,  and  the  waiters 
were  rushing  here  and  there  in  response  to  the  calls 
on  every  side.  The  benches  on  the  plank  walk  facing 
the  sea  were  all  occupied,  while  hundreds  of  people 
were  promenading  up  and  down,  enjoying  the  mag 
nificent  view  and  at  the  same  time  the  refreshing 
breeze  which  came  in  from  the  ocean.  The  music 
from  the  "  Pavilion  "  was  too  strong  and  clear  to  be 
confined  within  wooden  walls,  hence  the  strains  of 


48  DWELLERS    IN   GOTHAM. 

Gilmore's  famous  band  filled  the  great  square  with 
melody.  Ladies  in  the  daintiest  of  summer  costumes 
gave  color  and  vividness  to  the  scene  and  rivaled  in 
richness  and  variety  the  immense  beds  of  flowers 
fronting  the  hotel  in  the  glory  of  early  July.  On 
every  hand  there  was  evidence  of  wealth,  and  it  may 
be  questioned  if  in  the  days  of  imperial  Eome  a 
scene  of  more  real  splendor  could  be  found.  For 
here  were  jewels  costly  and  gleaming,  laces  and  silks 
finer  and  more  exquisite  than  ever  adorned  Roman 
matron,  rich  attire  and  golden  ornaments  in  lavish 
display,  not  barbaric  as  in  the  days  of  Nero,  but  deli 
cate  and  elegant,  of  richest  quality  and  finest  work 
manship. 

Madge  was  even  more  amazed  than  in  the  early 
afternoon,  for  she  had  accepted  without  question  the 
statement  that  "  there  was  positively  no  one  in  New 
York,"  while  here  were  crowds  of  people  of  evident 
wealth,  reveling,  too,  in  the  enjoyment  of  that  wealth 
as  she  had  never  even  dreamed  of. 

She  suggested  something  of  this  to  John,  who 
said : 

"Down  yonder,"  pointing  to  that  part  of  the 
island  where  they  had  met  Mr.  Dunbar,  "are  the 
bread  makers,  while  here  are  the  bread  eaters." 

"But  bread  makers  are  usually  bread  eaters," 
laughed  Madge,  who  was  anxious  to  avoid  a  return 
to  the  serious  discussion  of  the  early  afternoon. 

"  Not  always,"  said  John  ;  "  they  have  the  honor 
of  mixing  the  flour,  of  making  the  batches,  of  shap 
ing  the  loaves,  and  of  tending  the  ovens,  but  the 
bread  is  not  for  them.  Of  course,  if  a  loaf  is  over- 


A   REVEREND    RADICAL,  49 

baked  or  tlie  crust  browned  beyond  the  point  which 
is  attractive  or  palatable,  the  baker  may  have  it  for 
his  own  use  ;  but,  Madge,  it  is  true  the  bread  makers 
are  yonder  and  the  bread  eaters  are  here." 

"  If  that  is  so,  let  us  belong  to  the  bread  eaters,  for 
I  am  very  hungry.  Only  think  how  long  it  has  been 
since  lunch  time,  and  one  cannot  well  live  on  ocean' 
breezes  and  band  music." 

To  this  remark  John  gave  an  approving  smile,  and 
soon  they  were  in  the  dining  room  of  the  "  Oriental," 
where  surely  there  is  "  bread  "  in  all  possible  varie 
ties  and  forms. 


50  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Making  Stones  into  Bread. 

FOR  the  very  same  reason  with  which  Mark 
Brompton  urged  his  invitation  Mrs.  Vanghen 
steadily  declined  it,  which  shows  that  the 
man  and  the  woman  rarely,  if  ever,  have  the  same 
point  of  view.  We  may  discuss  the  question  of  sex 
equality  as  we  please,  but  when  everything  is  said  it 
still  remains  the  same  sublime  mystery.  One  is 
tempted  sometimes  to  wonder  in  what  this  equality 
consists.  Those  diamonds  so  gracefully,  though  not 
unconsciously,  worn  by  the  Marchioness  of  Tabasco 
at  the  state  ball  in  honor  of  Prince  Sapolio  are  car 
bon  ;  that  wagonload  of  coal  of  which  Tim  O'Healy 
is  in  charge  is  also  carbon.  Does  it  then  follow  that 
the  Marchioness  of  Tabasco  is  on  terms  of  equality 
with  Tim  O'Healy  ? 

Now  here  were  Mark  Brompton  and  Mrs. 
Vaughen,  though  of  the  same  kith  and  kin,  as  far  apart 
in  their  conclusions  as  their  finite  natures  would  allow. 
To  the  mind  of  Mr.  Brompton  there  was  no  reason 
whatever  why  his  sister  should  not  come  to  New  York 
at  this  particular  time  ;  to  the  mind  of  Mrs.  Vaughen 
there  was  a  most  urgent  reason  why  she  should  re 
main  at  Eastwich.  Mrs.  Vaughen  had  an  under 
standing  of  more  things  than  were  dreamt  of  in  the 
philosophy  of  her  worldly-wise  brother.  She  was 
perfectly  certain  that  Mrs.  Brompton,  had  she  been 


MAKING   STONES   INTO    BREAD.  51 

at  home,  would  not  have  united  in  this  invitation, 
and  when  she  returned  would  resent  such  a  visit  as 
an  intrusion. 

Mrs.  Yaughen  sincerely  pitied  Mark.  Though  he 
was  older  by  several  years,  she  remembered  dis 
tinctly  his  early  ambitions  and  his  determination  to 
be  rich  and  successful.  She  knew  also  that  there 
was  no  romance  in  his  marriage ;  that  no  fine,  tender 
feeling  actuated  him  in  the  founding  of  his  home ; 
and  that  from  beginning  to  end  the  whole  transac 
tion  was  almost  as  definitely  commercial  as  anything 
which  took  place  in  his  office.  She  was  further 
aware  that  he  got  just  what  he  bargained  for,  noth 
ing  more  or  nothing  less,  Augusta  Glenville 
understanding  perfectly  the  nature  of  the  arrange 
ment. 

Miss  Glenville  was  no  lovelorn  damsel  or  yearn 
ing  heroine,  no  boarding-school  maiden  with  a 
heart  crowded  with  dreams.  In  her  way  she  was 
just  as  practical  and  matter-of-fact  as  Mr.  Bromptoii 
was  in  his,  and  while  there  was  the  orthodox  wed 
ding,  not  even  omitting  the  customary  rice,  neither 
one  pretended  to  anything  of  sentiment.  If  the  offi 
ciating  clergyman  had  said,  "  Wilt  thou,  Half  Million, 
take  this  Half  Million,  to  have  and  to  hold  from  this 
day  forward  ?  "  there  would  probably  have  been  some 
indignation  in  the  bridal  party,  yet  in  reality  that 
was  the  inner  meaning  of  the  ceremony. 

But  Mark  Brompton  long  since  had  made  the 
discovery — a  sad,  pitiable  discovery  by  whomsoever 
made — that  man  shall  not  live  by  bread  alone.  The 
loaf  may  be  made  of  the  finest  flour,  of  the  daintiest 


52  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

shape,  baked  most  carefully,  yet  there  is  a  hunger 
which  it  cannot  meet. 

He,  foolish  man,  had  imagined  that  the  heart  was 
a  sort  of  safe  ;  a  receptacle  for  bonds  and  title  deeds ; 
with  a  combination  known  only  to  himself,  which 
he  could  open  and  close  at  will.  Years  ago  he  had 
found,  but  much  to  his  surprise,  that  it  was  not  a 
cunning  mechanism  of  steel  springs  and  wrought 
iron,  for  it  throbbed  and  ached  with  a  pain  all  its 
own.  But  he  kept  on  making  money,  and  appar 
ently  was  dead  to  all  feeling ;  still  there  were  times 
when  there  was  a  sense  of  utter  loneliness,  when  the 
world  was  barren,  and  his  life  one  of  bitter  disap 
pointment.  "  '  A  little  below  par,'  to  use  the  terms 
of  the  '  Street,' "  Dr.  Disney  would  say,  in  that 
bland,  gracious  way  of  his ;  for  sometimes  Mr. 
Brompton  wondered  if  physical  conditions  were  not 
the  cause  of  his  depression,  and  would  therefore 
send  for  Dr.  Disney,  in  whose  skill  he  had  much 
confidence. 

"  You  require  toning  up,  my  good  friend.  There 
is  nothing,  however,  to  cause  alarm.  The  pulse  is 
regular,  though  not  as  full  as  it  might  be.  I  think, 
however,  we  can  take  care  of  that  without  much  diffi 
culty." 

And  so  Mr.  Brompton  would  remain  at  home  for 
a  few  days,  but  the  time  was  very  heavy  on  his 
hands ;  for  Mrs.  Brompton  had  no  appreciation  of 
his  moods  or  feelings,  and  her  attempts  at  sympathy 
were  by  no  means  grateful. 

At  such  times  Mark  Brompton  went  back  over 
his  life,  with  just  the  same  hardness  and  honesty  as 


MAKING   STONES    INTO    BREAD.  53 

lie  did  everything,  but  the  retrospect  was  not  pleas 
ant.  He  heard  voices  from  men  who  had  come  to 
him  pleading  for  some  little  kindness  which  he  had 
failed  to  grant.  He  saw  men  with  pale,  despairing 
faces  leave  his  office,  his  stern  refusal  meaning  for 
them  utter  ruin.  He  could  feel  now  that  he  had 
been  hard,  merciless,  exacting,  demanding  inexorably 
his  pound  of  flesh. 

But  do  we  not  read  of  a  famous  but  nameless  in 
dividual  who  during  a  time  of  sickness  expressed  a 
strong  desire  to  be  a  monk,  but  who  when  his  health 
was  restored  was  anything  but  a  monk  ?  Whatever 
tenderness  came  to  Mark  Brompton  during  these 
times  was  known  only  to  himself,  nor  was  he  any 
less  rigorous  once  he  was  back  in  his  office. 

"  The  trouble  with  your  Uncle  Mark,"  said  Mrs. 
Yaughen  to  Edward,  just  a  few  days  before  he  left 
Eastwich,  and  she  was  giving  him  some  motherly 
counsel,  "  is  that  he  has  made  stones  into  bread." 

"  In  what  way  ? "  asked  Edward  ;  for  while  he  was 
poetic  and  imaginative,  still  there  were  phases  of 
his  nature  eminently  practical. 

"  In  this  way,"  answered  Mrs.  Vaughen,  "  he  has 
taken  his  youth,  his  ideals,  his  generous  impulses, 
and  by  the  sheer  force  of  his  will  made  them  the 
servants  of  his  ambitions." 

"  But  had  he  not  a  right  to  his  ambitions  ? "  ques 
tioned  Edward,  drawing  his  chair  closer  to  his 
mother's  ;  for  the  conversation  was  taking  place  under 
the  veranda  of  their  little  Eastwich  home,  and  the 
evening  shadows  were  deepening  rapidly. 

"  Surely,"  was  the  quick  response,  "  provided  such 


54  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

ambitions  are  not  miserably  selfish.  As  an  active, 
useful  man  your  Uncle  Mark  is  honestly  entitled  to 
the  honest  man's  loaf,  but  he,  unlike  your  father," 
looking  softly  in  the  direction  of  the  little  cemetery, 
which  could  be  seen  in  the  distance,  and  which  she 
had  visited  that  afternoon,  "is  not  content  with 
his  lawful  portion." 

"  Then  you  think  that  Uncle  Mark  has  more  loaves 
than  rightfully  belong  to  him  ?  "  Edward  plausibly 
suggested,  for  he  knew  that  Mr.  Brompton's  honesty 
was  unquestioned. 

"  Legally  and  according  to  the  standards  of  busi 
ness  he  has  a  right  to  all  he  now  possesses,  but  mor 
ally  no  man  is  justified  in  using  his  superior  strength 
and  skill  so  as  to  enrich  himself  at  the  expense  of 
others." 

They  were  both  silent  for  a  few  minutes,  Mrs. 
Yaughen's  eyes  turning  again  to  the  distant  church 
yard,  where  they  remained,  as  though  searching 
among  the  shadows  for  the  one  who  had  made 
life  so  rich  to  her.  Edward's  eyes  reaching  into  the 
heavens,  following  the  movements  of  the  clouds,  upon 
which  the  moonbeams  were  now  beginning  to  fall. 
These  two  quiet  figures  represented  memory  and 
hope.  The  one  was,  therefore,  busy  with  the  past, 
the  other  busy  with  the  future. 

"You  will  meet  the  same  temptation  as  your 
Uncle  Mark,  and  you  will  hear  the  same  mysterious 
voice,  *  Command  that  these  stones  be  made  bread,' " 
resumed  Mrs.  Yaughen. 

"But  success  does  not  always  mean  yielding  to 
temptation,"  Edward  urged,  not  so  much  in  defense 


MAKING  STONES   INTO   BREAD.  55 

of  his  Uncle  Mark  as  in  support  of  Ins  own  ambi 
tions. 

"  No,  but  when  one  is  in  the  wilderness  which  we 
call  life,  and  when  certain  stones,  which  it  is  dishon 
est  even  to  touch,  are  lying  all  around  us,  to  take 
these  stones  up  in  our  hands  and  turn  them  into 
bread  is  the  temptation  which  assails  almost  every 
one,  nor  are  there  many  who  successfully  resist  it. 
Remember,  my  darling  boy,"  this  with  great  tender 
ness,  but  with  equal  solemnity,  "  the  wilderness  in 
Judea  is  the  same  as  the  one  in  New  York,  and  the 
temptation  of  the  one  is  the  temptation  of  the 
other." 

"Within  a  few  days  they  parted,  she  to  maintain 
her  loving  watch  over  the  quiet  grave,  he  to  enter 
upon  that  terrible  battle  in  which  so  many  are  slain. 

To  the  very  minute  the  train  rolled  into  the  Grand 
Central  Depot,  and  Edward  Vaughen  was  soon  on 
the  platform.  There  is  nothing  remarkable  to  the 
average  New  Yorker  in  the  big  station  on  Forty- 
second  Street,  but  what  is  there  or  what  could  there 
be  remarkable  to  a  New  Yorker  ?  He  might  leave 
his  home  in  the  morning,  passing  some  vacant  lots 
on  the  corner,  and  on  returning  in  the  evening  find 
the  lots  occupied  by  a  huge  apartment  house,  ten 
anted  from  top  to  bottom  by  families  all  settled 
and  everything  to  rights,  yet  he  would  hardly  think 
it  a  matter  of  sufficient  importance  to  mention  at 
the  dinner  table !  He  invariably  reads  the  paper 
while  riding  over  the  Brooklyn  Bridge,  and  it  is 
only  when  some  country  friend  is  with  him  that  he 


86  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

even  looks  at  that  marvel  of  engineering  skill,  with 
its  threads  and  lacework  of  iron  ropes  and  gigantic 
cables ;  as  wondrous,  yet  as  beautiful  a  structure  as 
this  world  has  ever  seen.  No  concern  of  his  that 
buildings  lift  themselves  so  high  from  the  ground 
that  elevators  are  run  express  ;  for  in  this  busy  town 
men  cannot  spare  the  time  for  an  elevator  to  stop  at 
each  floor  on  the  way  up  !  But  this  was  Edward 
Yaughen's  first  visit  to  New  York,  and  before  he 
was  half  way  down  the  platform  of  the  depot  he 
was  fairly  bewildered.  He  followed,  however,  the 
stream  of  passengers,  a  stream  which,  like  the  river 
Danube,  has  three  mouths,  for  some  turned  to  the 
right,  in  the  direction  of  the  waiting  rooms,  some  to 
the  left,  where  they  could  reach  the  "  Elevated,"  and 
some  went  straight  ahead  toward  the  street.  The  pe 
culiar  cry  of  the  depot  hackman,  a  cry  which  for  pene 
trating  quality  is  like  that  of  the  Venetian  gondolier 
when  about  to  make  a  sharp  turning,  attracted  our 
young  friend,  and  ere  long  he  was  being  driven  to 
his  uncle's  home  on  Fifth  Avenue. 

Mr.  Brompton  received  him  with  as  much  cor 
diality  as  Edward  had  reason  to  expect,  and  for  several 
days  he  enjoyed  himself  visiting  about  the  city,  and 
seeing  such  things  as  would  naturally  be  of  interest 
to  him. 

"  I  have  spoken  to  Keen  &  Sharp,  and  they  can 
make  room  for  you  in  their  office,"  said  Mr.  Bromp 
ton  one  morning,  as  he  and  Edward  were  in  the 
breakfast  room. 

"And  who  are  Keen  &  Sharp?"  said  Edward, 
smiling  gratefully  at  his  uncle. 


MAKING   STONES   INTO    BREAL  67 

"  Friends  of  mine,  with  whom  I  have  had  business 
relations  for  some  years.  They  do  here  what  is 
known  as  a  general  brokerage  business,  but  have  in 
terests  in  other  things,  and  I  think  an  opening  with 
them  will  be  to  your  advantage." 

"  It  is  exceedingly  kind  of  you,  Uncle  Mark." 

"  O,  I  have  simply  made  an  investment  in  you," 
interrupted  Mr.  Brompton.  "  Sometimes  I  put  a 
little  money  in  wheat,  sometimes  in  cotton,  some 
times  in  a  railroad ;  and  sometimes  I  lose,  and  then 
again  I  don't.  Just  how  my  investment  in  you  will 
turn  out  remains  to  be  seen." 

"  When  am  I  expected  to  begin  work?"  Edward 
asked. 

"  I  told  Mr.  Keen  you  were  in  the  city,  and  could 
begin  any  time." 

"  Then  I  will  start  in  next  Monday,"  said  Edward. 

"  Very  well.  I  will  drop  a  line  to  Keen  &  Sharp 
to  that  effect." 


58  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  YIII. 
The  Dream  and  the  Reality. 

TO  take  a  young  man  fresli  from  college,  and 
within  a  few  weeks  after  graduation  have 
him  at  work,  was  Mark  Brompton's  way  of 
doing  things.  To  him  a  business  life  meant  prompt 
ness  ;  a  disregard  of  either  convenience  or  personal 
desire,  and  an  obedience  to  which  everything  must 
give  way  without  excuse  or  hesitation. 

"Mr.  Jones,"  he  would  say  to  his  confidential 
clerk,  "  I  have  a  '  cable '  from  our  correspondents  in 
London  which  requires  immediate  attention.  You 
will  therefore  take  the  Britannic,  which  sails  to-day 
at  one  o'clock,  and  as  you  are  familiar  with  this  mat- 
ter  you  can  arrange  it  according  to  instructions," 
speaking  as  indifferently  as  if  he  had  asked  Mr. 
Jones  to  do  some  little  errand  in  Brooklyn  or  Jer 
sey  City. 

The  fact  that  Mr.  Jones  had  a  daughter  who  waa 
to  be  married  within  the  week,  and  that  the  invita 
tions  for  the  wedding  were  already  out,  would  not 
weigh  even  as  dust  in  the  balances  of  his  command. 
So  in  less  than  three  hours  Mr.  Jones  would  be  on 
the  big  steamer  heading  for  Liverpool. 

"Mr.  Smith,  I  wish  you  to  represent  'the  house' 
at  the  creditors'  meeting  of  Bang  &  Crash  in  Chi- 
cago  the  day  after  to-morrow.  You  will  take  the 
train  this  afternoon,  as  I  have  wired  some  gentlemen 


THE   DREAM   AND   THE   REALITY.      .  59 

to  meet  you  to-morrow  evening,  so  as  to  have  an  un 
derstanding  of  affairs."  Then  he  would  take  up 
some  other  mutter  from  his  desk,  this  one  being 
settled. 

Poor  Mr.  Smith  !  And  he  had  a  christening  party 
in  his  home  this  very  evening!  The  baby  was 
christened,  and  the  party  came  off ;  meantime  he  was 
half  way  to  Buffalo. 

"  Mr.  Brown,  there  are  some  interests  of  ours  in 
Nevada  connected  with  that  road  which  the  T.,  C. 
&  O.  expect  to  lease.  As  you  have  this  matter  in 
your  department  be  good  enough  to  give  it  imme 
diate  personal  attention.  You  had  better  start  at 
once,  and  arrange  to  remain  there  till  everything  is 
settled." 

And  Mr.  Brown  hfid  just  become  engaged  to  Miss 
Grey  and  was  looking  forward  to  a  summer  of  out 
ings  and  pleasures  of  the  rarest  kind.  But  he  went 
to  Nevada. 

"Was  Mark  Brompton,  then,  a  hard  master  ?  Not  at 
all.  With  him  business  took  precedence,  and  every 
thing  else  had  to  fall  behind  in  such  order  and  place 
as  it  was  able  to  secure  in  the  procession.  "  Seek  ye 
first  the  kingdom  of  success,  and  let  all  other  things 
be  added  unto  you,"  was  his  understanding  of  a  cer 
tain  familiar  Scripture. 

It  is  most  assuredly  true  that  if  Edward  Yaughen 
had  not  been  the  nephew  of  Mark  Brompton,  his  first 
day  in  the  office  of  Keen  &  Sharp  would  also  have 
been  his  last.  The  simple  fact  is,  he  was  in  no  way 
fitted  for  such  a  place.  He  wrote  an  execrable  hand. 
He  knew  nothing  of  figures — that  is,  the  kind  of 
5 


60  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

figures  which  are  used  in  trade.  Business  forms  were 
all  unfamiliar  to  him.  In  plain  truth,  any  one  of  the 
office  boys  had  a  better  equipment  for  his  work  than 
Edward  had.  Before  he  had  been  an  hour  in  the 
office  he  felt  all  out  of  sorts,  and  wondered  how  he 
would  get  through  the  day.  Just  what  to  do  with 
himself  was  a  question.  True,  Mr.  Keen  had  intro 
duced  him  to  Mr.  Singleton,  the  head  of  a  depart 
ment,  placing  him  under  his  care,  but  Mr.  Single 
ton  seemed  to  be  too  busy  to  give  him  much  attention, 
for  there  were  two  days'  mail  piled  up  on  his  desk. 
Then  the  click  of  the  three  or  four  typewriters ;  the 
monotonous  burr  of  the  "  ticker "  grinding  out  its 
yards  of  tape ;  the  constant  coming  and  going  of 
people,  so  that  the  doors  of  the  outer  office  hardly 
remained  closed  for  a  full  minute  at  a  time ;  boys 
rushing  in  with  telegrams,  many  of  which  required 
immediate  reply ;  the  general  air  of  restlessness  which 
pervaded  the  whole  place— all  these  things,  with  the 
many  others  of  which  these  were  only  a  part,  BO 
affected  Edward  that  he  became  confused  and  even 
irritated,  and  his  gratitude  to  Mr.  Brompton  for 
opening  his  way  into  this  eminent  firm  was  not  so 
great  as  it  had  been.  Ah !  the  reality  of  business 
life  was  a  far  different  thing  from  his  college  dreams. 
Within  a  few  hours  most  of  the  romance  had  gone. 
In  the  office  of  Keen  &  Sharp  there  was  no  place 
for  poetry  or  visions.  Already  he  was  folding  up 
his  coat  of  many  colors,  and  the  hard,  grim,  ter 
rible  earnestness  of  the  strife  upon  which  lie  was 
entering  forced  itself  upon  his  unwilling  soul. 

"  Mr.  Vaughen,  if  you  have  not  made  other  ar- 


THE   DREAM   AND   THE   REALITY.  61 

rangements,"  said  Mr.  Singleton,  when  lunch,  time 
had  come,  "  I  will  be  very  glad  if  you  will  lunch  to 
day  with  me." 

"  You  are  very  kind,"  Edward  responded,  grateful 
for  this  mark  of  attention. 

"  Then  we  will  go  to  the  '  Equitable,' "  Mr.  Single 
ton  said. 

"  Very  well,"  replied  Edward,  without,  however, 
the  faintest  idea  of  what  Mr.  Singleton  meant,  other 
than  that  he  referred  to  some  lunching  place. 

To  the  "  Equitable  "  they  went,  and  such  a  jostling, 
pushing,  busy  crowd  Edward  had  never  imagined 
possible.  It  wras  men,  men,  nothing  but  men — 
young  men  in.  all  the  joy  and  glory  of  their 
strength ;  men  whose  youth  was  disappearing,  whose 
hair  was  tinging,  whose  faces  were  fading,  and  who 
were  beginning  to  show  the  marks  of  business  care  ; 
men  of  mature  years,  some  of  whom  were  evidently 
prosperous,  while  others  looked  worn  and  haggard. 
It  was  a  crowd  made  up  of  men  of  all  moods  and  pas 
sions,  of  all  hopes  and  ambitions. 

"  Ah  !  Singleton,  wasn't  that  a  surprise  to-day? "  a 
tall,  eager-faced  gentleman  observed,  just  as  our 
friends  were  seating  themselves  at  a  small  table  in 
the  basement  restaurant. 

Mr.  Singleton  merely  nodded  and  took  up  the  bill 
of  fare. 

"  By  the  way,  Singleton,  can  you  tell  me  if —  ? " 
dropping  the  balance  of  the  question  into  Mr.  Single 
ton's  ear  so  that  no  one  could  hear  it  but  himself. 

Mr.  Singleton  quietly  listened,  going  on  with  his 
study  of  the  menu. 


62  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"  Hallo,  Singleton!  Another  of  your  plans  likely 
to  go  through.  Big  plums  for  somebody,"  and  with 
a  knowing  smile  the  third  man  went  by. 

"  You  know,  Angelo,  what  I  want,"  Mr.  Singleton 
said  to  the  waiter,  "fix  up  something,  and  serve 
enough  for  two,"  an  order  which  Angelo  understood, 
for  Mr.  Singleton  was  one  of  his  most  regular 
guests. 

But  the  friends  and  acquaintances  of  Mr.  Single 
ton  would  not  desert  him  in  those  usually  weary  mo 
ments  which  lie  between  the  disappearance  of  the 
waiter  with  the  order,  and  his  reappearance  with  the 
heavy-laden  tray. 

"  That  deal  brought  Old  Slick  a  million." 

"  Tight  squeeze  Drowsley  got  in  that  Sahara  irri 
gation  affair." 

"Blinks  &  Winks  have  gone  to  the  bow-bows." 

"Sad  about  Snooks, just  after  he  got  that  presi 
dency." 

And  so  they  came  and  went,  talking  about  life  and 
death,  fortune  and  bankruptcy,  success  and  failure, 
as  if  they  were  matters  of  the  least  moment  and  had 
only  a  passing  importance. 

It  is  true  that  Snooks  had  dropped  unconscious 
in  his  office,  and  was  taken  home  to  die,  just  when 
the  dream  of  years  had  been  attained. 

It  is  also  true  that  Blinks  &  Winks,  after  having 
made  an  heroic  fight,  were  crushed  and  broken  in  the 
struggle. 

And  it  was  true  that  Drowsley  was  caught  in  an 
enterprise  which  almost  ruined  him. 

These  are  the  chances  which  men  have  to  take. 


THE   DREAM   AND  THE   REALITY.  63 

The  game  of  life,  as  it  is  played  in  New  York,  is  full 
of  risks.  Fortunes  are  made  and  unmade  by  the 
scratch  of  a  pen  or  the  flash  of  a  wire.  Nowhere 
in  the  whole  world  is  the  battle  of  the  wilderness 
fought  with  such  eagerness,  such  intensity,  such  cour 
age,  such  audacity.  Every  quality  in  the  man, 
whether  bad  or  good,  is  brought  into  play.  The 
spring  of  the  panther,  the  swoop  of  the  hawk,  the 
patience  of  the  ox,  the  strength  of  the  lion,  are  here 
made  manifest.  On  this  battle  ground,  almost  every 
day,  stones  are  made  into  bread  and  men  are  changed 
into  stones. 

After  lunch  Mr.  Singleton  and  Edward  returned 
to  the  office,  but  many  times  during  the  afternoon 
Edward  found  himself  anxiously  wondering  concern 
ing  the  things  which  he  had  seen  and  heard. 

That  night  he  wrote  a  long  letter  to  his  mother, 
giving  her  a  minute  and  vivid  description  of  the 
day,  but  not  a  word  did  he  breathe  of  his  anxieties 
or  disappointments.  Indeed,  his  letter  was  written 
in  a  humorous  strain,  and  very  few  would  have 
imagined  anything  of  the  heart  pain  and  loneliness 
which  were  behind  it. 

Mrs.  Vaughen,  however,  was  not  of  that  number, 
for  when  she  read  his  letter,  though  her  lips  now  and 
then  parted  into  a  smile,  yet  it  was  a  smile  with  a 
quiver  in  it. 


64  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Angels  of  Flesh  and  Blood. 

OVER,  on  the  East  Side  of  the  city,  well  down 
town,  between  Second  and  Third  Avenues, 
lived  the  Sauviers,  the  family  consisting  of 
Mrs.  Sauvier,  her  daughter  Oberta,  and  her  son  Fred. 
Mrs.  Sauvier  had  been  very  seriously  ill ;  indeed,  for 
some  time  her  life  had  been  despaired  of,  and  coin 
ing  up  out  of  much  weakness  and  suffering  her  re 
covery  was  anything  but  rapid. 

"  Still  you  are  a  little  better  to-day,"  Oberta  said, 
encouragingly,  as  she  sat  by  her  mother's  bedside  and 
gently  smoothed  the  forehead  which  yet  throbbed 
with  the  obstinate  fever. 

"  Yes,  dear,  I  am  better,"  but  the  voice  was  hollow 
and  uncertain,  and  the  eyes  drooped  in  sheer  weari 
ness. 

Nothing  more  was  said  for  a  few  moments, 
Oberta's  hand  moving  lovingly  over  her  mother's 
brow,  now  and  then  the  tender  fingers  lightly  lifting 
the  gray  hair  in  a  cooling,  grateful  way. 

"  I  wish  I  could  have  held  out  just  a  little  longer," 
Mrs.  Sauvier  said,  with  a  pathetic  quaver  in  her 
voice. 

"  Yon  held  out  too  long — longer  than  you  ever  will 
again,"  answered  Oberta,  bending  down  to  her 
mother's  pale,  worn  face,  and  kissing  her  most  ten 
derly. 


ANGELS   OF   FLESH   AND    BLOOD.  65 

The  home  in  which  the  Sauviers  lived  was  very 
different  from  that  of  Mark  Brompton  or  Dr.  Disney. 
At  one  time  the  neighborhood  was  fairly  fashion 
able,  and  their  house  had  been  occupied  by  people  of 
considerable  pretensions,  but  that  was  before  the  up 
town  movement  had  become  so  general.  As  wealth 
ier  families  moved  out  poorer  families  moved  in. 
Houses  were  altered  over  into  tenements.  Certain 
forms  of  business  made  steady  inroads  upon  the  quiet 
and  dignity  which  were  once  so  essential.  The  street 
was  noisy — in  the  summer  particularly  so.  In  the 
gray  dawn  of  the  morning  milk  wagons  would  clat 
ter  over  the  rough  pavements,  to  be  followed  by 
trucks  and  carts  on  their  way  to  the  markets.  Then 
would  come  brewers'  drays,  which,  driven  with  a 
speed  that  was  almost  reckless,  and  being  heavy 
laden,  made  a  noise  as  of  severe  thunder.  As  the 
day  wore  on  the  lighter  vehicles  of  the  grocery  store 
and  the  meat  market  clattered  continuously.  Ped 
lars,  too,  with  stentorian  voices  and  lungs  as  those 
of  an  organ  bellows,  bawled  out  their  wares.  From 
the  avenue  on  either  side  the  "  Elevated  "  trains  were 
rushing  up  and  down,  the  noise,  however,  being  fully 
equaled  by  the  unceasing  din  of  the  surface  cars, 
with  their  jangling  bells,  and  the  heavy  traffic  of  all 
kinds  ever  on  these  great  thoroughfares.  In  the 
winter  the  noises  are  deadened  somewhat  by  the 
closed  windows,  together  with  the  softer  condition  of 
the  streets,  but  in  the  summer  the  roar  and  confusion 
in  such  a  neighborhood  were  almost  unbearable. 

Poor  Mrs.  Sauvier !  Her  girlhood  home  was  in 
the  suburbs  of  Boston,  not  far  from  Milton  Hill, 


66  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

where  from  her  chamber  windows  she  could  look  out 
upon  the  harbor,  with  the  sun  smiting  the  wavi-s  as 
they  rolled  in  from  the  measureless  sea,  and  the 
lights  flashing  out  in  the  darkness.  The  house  stood 
in  the  midst  of  ample  grounds,  and,  while  not  pre 
tentious,  indicated  both  comfort  and  refinement 

And  now  she  is  fighting  with  fever  in  New  York, 
in  the  midst  of  noises  and  confusion  impossible  to 
describe  and  almost  impossible  to  endure. 

How  did  all  this  come  about?  But  what  need  to 
ask,  for  do  we  not  see  this  same  thing  almost  every 
time  we  look  fairly  around  us?  In  every  great  city 
there  are  multitudes  of  men  and  women  who  have 
met  with  reverses  and  misfortunes  and  are  hiding 
their  poverty  as  best  they  can. 

Many  years  ago  Mrs.  Sauvier  with  her  little  chil 
dren  came  to  New  York.  Though  not  entirely  de 
pendent  on  her  needle,  it  was  her  main  support. 
Through  the  long,  weary  hours,  whether  in  summer 
or  winter,  she  worked  unceasingly.  She  made  no 
complaints  over  her  dull,  cheerless  life,  but  kept  on 
working  while  strength  held  out.  She  guarded  her 
secret,  whatever  it  was,  for  she  had  learned  the  value 
of  silence.  She  held  herself  apart  from  her  neigh- 
bore,  but  not  proudly,  gaining  in  the  end  their  quiet 
respect.  With  a  fidelity  which  never  wavered  she 
gave  herself  without  reserve  to  the  one  task  of  sav 
ing  her  children  from  the  penalty  which  her  position 
had  imposed  upon  them.  A  sad,  bitter  fate  seemed 
inevitable,  but  if  heroic  devotion  could  avert  that 
fate  it  would  cheerfully  be  given.  She  could  not  do 
much  for  the  world  at  large,  but  she  determined  that 


ANGELS   OF   FLESH   AND   BLOOD.  67 

in  her  children  there  would  be  nothing  of  defile 
ment,  and  that  she  would  efface  everything  of  mark 
or  stain  which  their  surroundings  might  involve.  It 
cost  her  sleepless  nights,  bitter  tears,  pain,  weariness, 
but  so  far  she  had  succeeded,  and  if  this  sickness  had 
ended  as  at  one  time  was  feared,  not  even  Elijah,  in 
his  chariot  of  mysterious  splendor,  would  have  been 
more  worthy  of  a  welcome  to  the  eternal  heavens. 

"  Sister  Nora  called  yesterday  afternoon,"  Oberta 
said  a  few  minutes  later,  "  but  as  you  were  resting  at 
the  time  she  would  not  allow  you  to  be  disturbed, 
but  hoped  to  call  again,  perhaps  to-day." 

"  She  is  connected  in  some  way  with  Mr.  Dunbar's 
mission  ?  "  Mrs.  Sauvier  asked. 

"I  am  not  certain,  but  presume  so." 

"  How  kind  they  have  been  to  me  !  " 

"  Not  only  to  you,  mamma,  but  to  all  of  us.  Mr. 
Dunbar  has  been  more  than  kind,  and  as  for  Sister 
Nora  I  never  can  forget  her." 

Oberta  had  good  reason  to  speak  so  gratefully,  for 
when  she  was  utterly  worn  out  with  sleepless  nights 
and  anxious  days,  fighting  for  her  mother's  life  with 
rare  courage,  these  brave  souls,  hearing  in  some  way 
of  her  distress,  came  to  her  help,  just  as  angels  came 
to  One  who,  fighting  the  battle  of  the  wilderness, 
was  faint  and  in  sore  temptation. 

The  angels  that  we  see  in  pictures  are  usually  very 
ethereal-looking  beings,  with  wings  mysteriously  ad 
justed,  and  draperies  that  gracefully  lose  themselves 
in  the  encircling  clouds.  We  cannot,  of  course,  but 
admire  the  seraphic  creatures,  still  their  exact  use  has 
never  been  made  quite  clear  to  us.  For  in  this 


68  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

world  tired  people  need  rest,  hungry  people  need 
bread,  tempted  people  need  help ;  hence,  while  the 
picture  angel  may  serve  a  useful  purpose  as  a  fresco 
decoration,  or  make  the  chief  figure  in  a  stained-glass 
window,  yet  as  a  practical,  matter-of-fact,  everyday 
sort  of  being  the  average  angel  is  not  a  brilliant 
success. 

In  a  poem  an  angel  is  almost  a  necessity,  for  a  poet 
without  any  number  of  cherubs  and  seraphs  is  very 
badly  off;  indeed,  they  are  a  positive  necessity,  for 
"  sings  "  and  "  wings  "  rliyme  with  "  things,"  and 
poems  are  usually  things,  nothing  more.  But  most 
people  have  little  time  for  poetry.  We  prefer  angels 
with  hands,  who  are  able  to  minister  to  our  needs, 
who  can  help  us  in  our  poverty,  and  render  us  some 
definite,  practical  service. 

It  was  to  this  class  Sister  Nora  and  Mr.  Dunbar 
belonged.  Instead  of  a  trumpet  she  carried  a  side- 
bag,  with  her  pocketbook  inside.  Instead  of  a  halo 
he  wore  a  sensible,  broad -brimmed  hat.  Instead  of 
floating  mysteriously  in  the  sky  they  walked  through 
the  crowded  streets.  Probably  no  artist  would  have 
taken  either  of  them  for  the  foreground  of  some  ora 
torio  in  paint,  yet  for  practical  purposes  they  were 
worth  far  more  than  a  whole  gallery  of  mediaeval 
visitants. 

In  that  part  of  the  wilderness  to  which  Sister  Nora 
and  Hugh  Dunbar  had  devoted  themselves,  while  the 
fight  for  bread  was  no  more  intense  or  bitter  than  in 
the  region  where  Edward  Vaughen  was  at  work,  still 
the  struggle  was  on  a  different  plane.  Here  men 
were  not  battling  for  mastery,  but  against  positive 


ANGELS   OF   FLESH   AND    BLOOD.  69 

hunger.  It  was  not  brain  against  brain,  but  band 
against  band.  The  question  was  not  one  of  competi 
tion,  but  of  starvation. 

And  there  are  storms  here  just  as  in  other  places, 
and  the  same  temptation  which  assailed  Mark  B romp- 
ton,  to  which  lie  yielded  so  weakly,  comes  in  all  its 
terrible  forms.  Hence  men  at  times  forget  that  they 
are  men  ;  women  forget  that  they  are  women.  In 
this  part  of  Gotham  the  sins  may  be  coarser,  more 
outwardly  brutal,  than  in  Wall  Street  or  Fifth  Ave 
nue  ;  the  sins,  however,  are  the  same. 

A  ring  at  the  street  door  called  Oberta  to  the 
"  tube,"  when,  hearing  the  voice  of  Sister  Nora,  she 
hastened  to  give  her  cordial  welcome. 

Not  very  tall,  nor  remarkably  beautiful ;  nothing 
at  all  wonderful  in  bearing  or  appearance ;  no  nov 
elist's  heroine,  with  queenly  air,  exquisitely  formed 
features,  having  the  star-like  eyes,  the  shell-like  ears, 
the  ruby  lips,  with  which  the  romancers  have  made 
us  all  familiar.  Sister  Nora  was  only  a  woman,  but 
she  was  a  real  woman,  a  noble,  brave,  true  woman ; 
not  one  of  those  artificial  femininities  whose  lives  are 
spent  in  milliners'  shops  and  dressmakers'  rooms,  and 
whose  highest  ambitions  are  attained  in  achieving 
honors  at  the  horse  show  or  a  chanty  ball. 

"I  am  glad  indeed  to  see  you  continue  to  im 
prove,"  she  said  to  Mrs.  Sauvier,  going  over  to  the 
bed  and  giving  her  strong,  firm  haiad  to  the  sick 
woman. 

"  Yes,  we  think  mamma  is  doing  nicely,"  answered 
Oberta,  sitting  down  on  the  bed  near  the  foot,  Sister 
Nora  taking  a  chair  not  far  from  Mrs.  Sauvier. 


70  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

They  talked  for  some  minutes,  going  from  one 
topic  to  another,  Sister  Nora  being  careful,  however, 
that  the  conversation  was  light  and  pleasant,  for  it 
was  important  to  relieve  Mrs.  Sauvier  of  any  undue 
strain. 

"  Before  I  leave,"  Sister  Nora  said,  "  I  wish  to  ask 
a  favor." 

"Anything  you  ask  will  be  a  favor  to  us,"  grate 
fully  responded  Oberta,  looking  at  her  mother,  to 
which  Mrs.  Sauvier  assented  by  a  quiet  motion  of 
her  head. 

"I  have  spoken  of  you  to. some  dear  friends  of 
mine,"  Sister  Nora  went  on,  "  and  one  of  them,  the 
daughter  of  a  physician,  would  like  some  time  to  call 
with  me." 

A  cloud,  not  very  large  nor  deep,  }-et  a  cloud 
withal,  gathered  for  an  instant  on  Obcrta's  face, 
though  she  tried  bravely  to  hide  it. 

"O,  you  proud,  sensitive  creature!"  Sister  Nora 
said,  smilingly.  "You  think  my  friend  is  coming 
here  on  a  charity  errand.  Well,  you  are  mis 
taken." 

"  Poor  people,  you  know,  are  proud  people," 
Oberta  managed  to  say,  by  way  of  reply,  but  she  felt 
that  Sister  Nora  was  meeting  with  a  poor  return  for 
her  great  kindness. 

"  Yes,  and  it  is  better  so,  for,  in  my  opinion,  pov 
erty  has  often  good  cause  for  pride."  Sister  Nora 
had  both  opinions  and  convictions,  as  her  friends 
could  truthfully  testify,  for  she  was  wont  to  speak 
her  mind  at  times  with  considerable  freedom. 

"By  the  way,"  she  said,  rising  from  her  chair, 


ANGELS   OF   FLESH   AND    BLOOD.  71 

"my  friend's  name  is  Disney,  Madge  Disney,  daugh 
ter  of  our  family  physician,  Dr.  Disney." 

"  Disney  !  "  almost  screamed  Mrs.  Sauvier,  raising 
her  head  from  the  pillows  and  looking  earnestly  at 
Sister  Nora. 

"  Yes,  Disney,"  answered  Sister  Nora,  amazed  at 
the  effect  of  thb  name  upon  Mrs.  Sauvier. 

"  And  his  daughter  is  coming  to  see  me ! "  Mrs. 
Sauvier  almost  gasped,  her  eyes  now  filled  with  what 
seemed  a  look  of  horror. 

"  Yes,  such  is  her  wish,  but  not  unless  you  wish 
it,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Oj  the  ways  of  God,  the  ways  of  God ! "  Mrs. 
Sauvier  hoarsely  whispered,  falling  back  faint  and 
exhausted. 


72  DWELLERS  IN   GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  X. 

An  Evening  at  Dr.  Disney's. 

yV    )TISS  DISNEY  had  a  keen  but  uncomforta- 

f  y  I  ble  memory  of  that  meeting  with  Hugh 
J[  D unbar,  and  every  time  she  thought  of  it, 
which  was  quite  frequently,  her  discomfort  only  in 
creased.  Of  course  she  had  not  been  rude,  not  even 
in  the  most  remote  way,  for  such  a  thing  was  impos 
sible  to  one  whose  social  adjustments  were  so  perfect 
and  whose  motions  and  phrases  were  balanced  in  the 
highest  form  of  art.  Still  there  was  the  distinct 
impression  of  a  failure  on  her  part  to  meet  the  full 
requirements  of  the  case. 

Very  likely  some  of  those  introspective  beings  who 
enjoy  mental  analyses,  and  who  are  never  quite  so 
happy  as  when  they  are  reducing  motives  and  rea 
sons  in  their  crucibles,  could  discover  certain  un 
worthy  elements  in  these  feelings  of  Miss  Disney. 
Perhaps  they  might  even  go  so  far  as  to  insinuate 
that  her  annoyance  was  not  because  of  her  treatment 
of  Mr.  Dunbar,  but  the  result  of  a  stupid  blunder  for 
which  she  alone  was  to  blame. 

Well,  what  of  it  ?  Most  of  the  people  now  in  the 
world  are  human — very  human— a  fact  which  cannot 
well  be  controverted,  and  yet  a  fact  which  many 
serious  moralists  are  apt  to  ignore.  It  should  ever 
be  borne  in  mind  that,  originally,  men  (and  women 
too,  strange  as  it  may  seem)  were  made  a  little  lower 


AN   EVENING  AT   DR.    DISNEY'S.  73 

than  the  angels,  and  so  far  as  can  be  observed  the 
order  of  creation  jet  obtains. 

The  only  way  to  have  even  a  fair  proportion  of 
enjoyment  in  this  world  is  to  take  things  for  just 
what  they  seem  to  be,  and  not  be  too  much  con 
cerned  about  what  they  really  are.  No  sensible,  in 
dustrious,  well-bred  bee  troubles  itself  with  the  roots 
of  the  flower  upon  which  it  luxuriates  with  such  sat 
isfaction  to  itself  and  profit  to  the  community.  "Why 
should  it?  Honey  is  not  found  in  roots,  but  in  blos 
soms. 

The  man  who  would  preserve  his  illusions  must 
not  go  behind  the  scenes.  It  is  a  great  mistake  to 
question  things  too  closely. 

You  think  that  Mrs.  Dent's  smile  is  hollow  and  in 
sincere  ? 

You  think  that  Mrs.  Trefousi  is  only  acting  a  part, 
and  that  her  sweet,  winning  ways  have  no  reality 
whatever  ? 

You  think  that  Miss  Jouvin  is  only  pert  and  silly, 
and  not  witty  and  romantic  as  some  claim  she  is  ? 

Admitting  that  in  each  case  your  supposition  is 
correct,  what  have  you  gained  ?  And  then,  if  your 
supposition  is  not  correct,  only  think  how  much  in 
justice  you  have  done,  besides  the  personal  loss  to 
yourself!  Queer  old  parable  that  is  of  the  "Beam 
and  the  Mote."  Queer  old  world  this  is,  anyhow. 

Of  course  Madge  Disney  felt  mortified.  "Why 
shouldn't  she  ?  Here  was  a  young  man  to  whom  she 
had  barely  condescended  ;  whose  treatment  at  her 
hands  was  anything  but  gracious ;  who  was  practi 
cally  dismissed  by  her — though,  of  course,  in  a  very 


74  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

polite  way — and  now  she  discovers  that  socially  lie 
actually  has  the  advantage,  while  in  other  respects 
his  position  is  much  superior  to  the  one  she  occupies  ! 
Human  nature,  with  all  its  ductility  and  tensility, 
could  not  endure  this  strain  without  yielding  some 
where. 

And  in  order  that  nothing  should  he  lacking  to 

D  O 

complete  the  measure  of  her  annoyance,  she  now  re 
members  that  he  was  positively  good-looking ;  that 
his  eyes  were  not  only  bright,  but  expressive;  that 
Ilis  voice  was  pleasant  and  mellow,  and  that  there 
was  something  singularly  attractive  about  his  smile. 
She  even  remembered  that  his  exceedingly  unconven 
tional  tweed  suit  was  well  made,  and  fitted  him  per 
fectly,  and  that  as  he  stood  there  on  the  beach,  talk 
ing  with  John — his  eyes  full  of  earnestness,  his  face 
lit  up  with  the  eagerness  of  discussion — he  presented 
an  appearance  by  no  means  displeasing  to  the  fem 
inine  eye. 

Would  her  memory  have  been  so  tenacious  of  these 
details  if  she  had  not  learned  from  her  brother  of 
Mr.  Dunbar's  position  and  wealth  ?  Probably  not ; 
this,  however,  proves  nothing  except  that  Madge  was 
human,  and  consequently  subject  to  infirmities  and 
limitations. 

In  a  few  days  John  Disney  called  upon  Mr.  Dun- 
bar  to  urge  him  to  come  over  and  spend  an  evening 
in  the  Disney  household. 

"  Do  some  mission  work  with  us,"  John  said.  "My 
mother  is  away — called  out  of  town  by  the  serious 
illness  of  her  father;  my  father  has  two  or  three 
special  cases  which  keep  him  busy,  so  that  my  sister 


AN   EVENING  AT  DR.    DISNEY'S.  75 

and  I  are  left  very  much  to  ourselves.  O,  it  is 
pitiful,  in  a  whole  city  full,  friends  \ve  have  none ! 
You  see  I  remember  Hood." 

"Yes,"  answered  Dunbar,  "but  you  always  had  a 
remarkable  memory  for  poetry,  and  what  you  failed 
to  remember  your  own  fancy  supplied.  By  the  way, 
where  is  that  sad-faced  youth  with  the  voice  into 
which  he  used  to  squeeze  tears,  and  who  put  us 
through  a  course  of  agonies  with  his  'Bridge  of 
Sighs?'" 

"  You  mean  Muggs  ? " 

oo 

"Muggs  was  our  name  for  him — and  an  appro 
priate  name  too." 

"  And  yet  I  always  liked  Muggs  ;  he  was  a  sincere, 
well-meaning  fellow." 

"Yes,"  Dunbar  answered,  "but  he  had  no  future 
that  I  could  see.  He  could  recite  a  little  and  banjo 
a  little,  but  the  man  who  expects  to  make  his  way  in 
life  must  have  a  more  effective  weapon  than  a  banjo, 
noble  and  soulful  instrument  as  it  is." 

" '  Shake  not  thy  gory  locks  at  me,' "  laughed  John  ; 
"'Hude  am  I  in  my  speech,  and  little  blessed  with 
the  soft  phrase  of  peace,'  but  there  are  some  sins 
which  cannot  in  honesty  be  brought  to  my  door." 

"That  being  the  case,"  was  the  smiling  response, 
"you  may  expect  me  on  the  evening  you  name." 

Madge  Disney  was  one  of  those  exceedingly  for 
tunate,  but  (though  the  admission  must  be  made  with 
profound  sorrow)  not  very  numerous,  young  ladies 
who  look  well  however  costumed.  Still,  a  white 
gown  of  some  soft  material,  simply  made,  but  ex 
quisitely  fitting,  in  no  wise  lessened  her  attractive- 
0 


76  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

ness.  She  was  fairly  tall,  of  superb  figure ;  hair  just 
dark  enough  to  escape  the  auburn  tint,  but  which 
had  a  trick  of  catching  and  holding  the  sunlight; 
eyes  that  were  open  and  clear,  yet  rich  with  mys 
terious  life,  and,  while  her  features  taken  separately 
may  not  have  attained  Grecian  harmony,  the  general 
expression  was  undoubtedly  one  to  be  desired  ;  for 
Madge  Disney  was  just  about  as  winsome  and  at 
tractive  as  any  one  woman  has  a  right  to  be.  As 
she  came  forward  in  the  soft  light  of  the  summer 
evening  to  greet  Hugh  Dnnbar  she  formed  the  chief 
figure  in  a  very  pleasing  picture,  and  he  thought — 
well,  suppose  we  do  not  concern  ourselves  just  now 
with  what  Hugh  Dunbar  thought.  Thought  is  a 
very  elusive  thing.  It  cannot  be  poured  out  like 
molten  iron  into  molds  prepared  to  receive  it. 
Language  is  to  thought  as  the  beach  is  to  the  ocean — 
a  place  where  we  may  stand  at  times  and  gaze  out 
upon  the  formless  and  the  infinite.  The  man  who 
can  say  all  he  thinks  has  either  a  marvelous  vocabu 
lary  or  such  limitations  of  thinking  as  commend  him 
to  our  pity. 

"  O,  it  is  very  simple,"  Mr.  Dunbar  said,  in  reply 
to  John's  question  as  to  how  he  had  entered  upon 
his  present  work.  "  I  have  always  been,  just  as  you 
are  now,  interested  in  the  social  problem,  and  I  was 
anxious  to  reach  definite  conclusions." 

"  What  are  social  problems  ? "  asked  Madge.  "  The 
more  I  hear  of  what  people  call  socialism  the  less 
I  understand  it." 

"  Your  perplexity,  Miss  Disney,  is  very  natural. 
In  point  of  fact  there  is  no  such  thing  as  socialism ; 


AN   EVENING  AT   DR.    DISNEY'S.  77 

neither  are  there  distinctively  social  problems,"  Mr. 
Dunbar  answered. 

"  And  yet,"  interrupted  John — for  it  was  evident 
Mr.  Dunbar  had  not  completed  his  answer — "  every 
one  is  talking  more  or  less  about  '  socialism,'  '  the 
emancipation  of  the  working  classes,'  the  '  crimes  of 
monopoly,'  and  things  of  that  sort." 

"  Yery  true,"  said  Mr.  Dunbar,  "  but  there  is 
probably  no  general  matter  concerning  which  there 
is  so  much  said  and  so  little  understood.  The  social 
economist,  as  he  calls  himself,  has  his  theory;  the 
labor  agitator  has  one  entirely  different,  while  the 
philanthropist  has  yet  another  one." 

"  But  am  I  to  understand  that  you  deny  the  very 
existence  of  socialism  and  social  problems?"  ques 
tioned  John. 

"  As  such,  yes — and  yes  most  decidedly ! " 

"  I  am  afraid,  Mr.  Dunbar,  that  your  very  kindly 
efforts  to  enlighten  me  have  taken  us  away  from  my 
brother's  question — as  to  your  reasons  for  the  work 
in  which  you  are  now  engaged,"  Madge  suggested. 

"  No,"  pleasantly  remarked  Mr.  Dunbar,  "  your 
brother's  question  is  still  in  the  foreground." 

John,  who  in  his  way  was  partial  to  an  argument, 
evidently  had  another  question  about  ready,  but 
Madge  was  too  quick  for  him. 

"Now,  John,  please  allow  Mr.  Dunbar  to  answer 
your  first  question  before  you  propose  another,"  she 
said,  hastily,  for  she  was  anxious  to  know  why  Hugh 
Dunbar  had  put  aside  the  life  which  was  properly 
his  and  entered  upon  another  so  entirely  different. 

"  I  said,  a  moment  since,"  Mr.  Dunbar  remarked, 


78  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

evading  most  adroitly  a  question  which  was  almost 
personal,  and  making  the  conversation  more  genera!, 
"  that  there  was  no  such  thing  as  socialism,  and  that 
the  term  '  social  problems '  was  quite  misunderstood. 
We  have  just  the  game  old  problems  which  the  world 
has  ever  had — the  problems  of  poverty,  of  suffering, 
of  distress,  of  drunkenness,  of  ruin,  of  waste — and 
these  we  must  face  and  solve." 

"  Still,  the  question  of  my  brother  remains,  and,  as 
you  have  said,  in  the  foreground,"  Madge  said,  with 
a  quiet  smile,  clearly  discerning  Mr.  Dunbar's  pur 
pose  to  lead  the  conversation  away  from  himself. 

"  Well,  there  was  nothing  remarkable  about  it," 
he  replied,  seeing  no  way  to  avoid  an  explanation. 
"First  I  joined  a  mission  band  who  went  out  from 
the  seminary.  Then  I  connected  myself  with  one 
of  the  East  Side  churches,  took  a  class  in  the  Sunday 
school,  visited  in  the  homes  of  my  scholars,  through 
them  had  access  to  other  homes — so  I  gradually  came 
to  know  something  of  the  people." 

"  And  what  sort  of  people  did  you  find  ? "  asked 
Madge,  very  much  as  she  would  have  asked  Stanley 
concerning  the  people  he  met  in  Central  Africa. 

"The  same  kind  of  people  I  have  known  all  my 
life,"  was  the  reply.  "  Not  so  well  housed  or  as  well 
clad,  but  the  same  people.  In  some  cases  the  frame 
enhances  the  picture,  but,  Miss  Disney,  when  one  is 
looking  at  a  Murillo  or  a  Rubens  the  frame  is  not  of 
much  consequence.  There  is  no  difference  in  the 
book  of  life  on  the  East  Side  or  the  West  Side  ex 
cept  in  the  binding.  The  story  is  the  same." 

"  When  it  became  known  that  you  had  a  basket  of 


AN  EVENING  AT   DR.   DISNEY'S.  79 

loaves  and  fishes  your  ministry  doubtless  became  very 
popular,"  John  good-lmmoredly  remarked. 

"  I  have  kept  the  basket  out  of  sight  thus  far,"  was 
the  quiet  reply. 

"  How  could  you?  You  were  driven  over  to  your 
Sunday  school ;  you  brought  your  friends  at  times  t 
sec  what  was  going  on.  Besides,  were  there  not '  out 
ward  and  visible  signs  of  an  inward  and  spiritual 
grace  ? '  Madge,  my  only  and  well-beloved  but  some 
what  nnregenerate  sister,  it  is  for  your  benefit  that 
I  am  quoting  from  the  Catechism." 

"  My  dear  friend,  I  do  not  go  there  as  you  sug 
gest.  Where  you  found  me  the  other  day,  there  I 
live." 

This  was  said  without  the  least  affectation  or  at 
tempt  at  the  heroic. 

"  Live  there ! "  Madge  and  John  exclaimed,  in  the 
same  breath. 

"  Why,  of  course.  How  else  could  I  do  the  peo 
ple  any  good  ?  This  whole  scheme  of  charity  serv 
ice — throwing  things  at  the  poor,  like  shells  from  a 
mortar — is  of  no  use  whatever.  There  must  be  direct 
personal  contact  between  the  rich  and  the  poor — air- 
other  service  does  more  harm  than  good." 

"  This  is  hard  on  many  of  our  charities  and  insti 
tutions,"  said  Dr.  Disney,  who  had  been  called  out 
immediately  after  dinner,  and  came  into  the  room 
while  Dnnbar  \vas  speaking. 

"  I  do  not  mean  to  be  hard  on  them,"  Mr.  Dnnbar 
answered,  "  only  on  the  method  of  administration. 
The  remedy  for  the  present  state  of  things  is  not  in 
soup  kitchens  or  bread  tickets.  Often  it  seems  to 


80  DWELLERS  IN   GOTHAM. 

me  as  if  we  tossed  help  to  the  poor  as  we  do  bones 
to  a  dog.  We  must  adopt  a  very  different  course  if 
we  would  really  effect  anj'thing.  But  now,  Miss 
Disney,  may  we  not  have  a  little  music  ?  " 

There  were  two  or  three  reasons  why  Madge  was 
willing  to  accede  to  this  very  natural  request:  she 
had  a  nice  hand  ;  she  sat  gracefully ;  she  looked  well 
at  the  piano,  and  she  played  with  a  fair  measure  of 
skill. 

There  were  about  the  same  number  of  reasons  why 
Mr.  Dunbar  rather  abruptly  asked  for  this  favor : 
the  conversation  was  more  personal  than  he  enjoyed ; 
the  Disney  atmosphere  was  not  seriously  sympathetic ; 
he  could  endure  average  music  with  a  patience  ac 
quired  through  much  suffering,  and  he  would  have  a 
chance  to  study  Madge  more  closely. 

So  they  went  over  to  the  piano,  Dr.  Disney  and 
John  remaining  within  easy  speaking  distance  of 
each  other. 

"  Singular  sort  of  man,"  said  Dr.  Disney  to  John, 
under  cover  of  one  of  Madge's  double-handed 
crashes. 

"  Yery,"  answered  John. 

"Married?" 

"No." 

"  Particular  friend  of  yours  ?  " 

"Yes." 

Madge  was  now  rippling  along  the  upper  register, 
with  little  bits  of  music  dripping  from  her  fingers — 
like  a  fountain  playing  in  the  courtyard  of  an  Ital 
ian  villa.  Then  came  another  double-hander,  and 
with  it: 


AN    EVENING   AT   DR.  DISNEY'S.  81 

"  He  seems  interested  in  Madge." 
"  Hadn't  noticed  it." 
"  Get  him  to  come  over  again." 
"  Yes,  sir." 

More  ripples  at  the  piano,  involving  silence  every 
where  else,  bnt  soon  another  crash. 
"I  like  his  appearance." 
"  I  like  him." 
"  Good  family  ? " 
"  Very." 

"  I  hope  we  may  see  more  of  him." 
"So  do  I." 


82  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

A  Sunday  on  the  East  Side. 

THOUGH  Hugh  Dunbar  had  spoken  to  the 
Disneys  in  a  quiet,  simple  way  concerning  the 
opening  of  his  work  on  the  East  Side,  yet 
there  were  times  when  he  was  tempted  to  give  up 
in  utter  despair.  Everything  seemed  hopeless.  The 
conditions  were  all  discouraging.  His  first  visit  to 
the  church  with  which  he  had  resolved  to  connect 
himself  was  a  bitter  experience.  The  structure, 
though  architecturally  distinguished  from  the  other 
buildings  on  the  street,  was  anything  but  imposing 
or  impressive.  An  iron  fence,  sadly  in  need  of 
paint  and  broken  in  several  places,  straggled  along 
the  front  of  the  edifice,  enclosing  a  narrow  strip  of 
ground  intended  presumably  as  a  grass  plot,  but 
the  grass,  through  years  of  neglect,  had  become 
discouraged,  hence  only  grew  in  rank,  sprawling 
tufts,  and  at  such  distances  as  hardly  to  be  on  speak 
ing  terms.  The  spaces  intervening  were  either  bare 
or  ornamented  with  scraps  of  dirty  paper  and  the 
usual  litter  that  accumulates,  no  one  knows  how. 
Over  the  entrance  was  supposedly  a  stained-glass 
window,  but  so  covered  with  a  rusty  netting  of 
heavy  wire  as  to  hide  it  almost  completely.  Under 
this  window,  a  little  to  one  side,  was  a  board  of 
Gothic  pretensions,  which  board  was  intended  to  set 
forth  the  name  of  the  church  and  the  times  when 


A   SUNDAY   ON   THE    EAST   SIDE.  83 

services  were  held,  but  the  years  luid  so  bleached 
it  as  to  make  it  practically  useless.  The  church 
doors  were  not  altogether  guiltless  of  paint,  still 
not  enough  remained  to  establish  the  original 
color. 

On  entering  the  vestibule  Dunbar  saw  that  the 
walls  were  dingy,  the  matting  ragged,  and  every 
thing  just  as  cheerless  as  could  well  be  imagined. 
He  went  down  a  short  stairway  of  five  or  six  steps 
leading  to  a  basement,  called  by  courtesy  a  Sunday 
school  room.  An  ungainly,  space-absorbing  furnace 
stood  in  one  corner,  from  which  three  or  four  rusty, 
dusty,  hot-air  pipes,  reached  out,  traveling  the  en 
tire  length  of  the  room.  Some  half  dozen  stiff, 
awkward  gas  lights  hung  from  the  ceiling,  but  the 
ceiling  being  low,  and  the  lights  not  protected,  the 
results  were  seen  in  broad  sooty  patches.  A  picture 
of  a  distressed  young  female,  out  somewhere  in  mid- 
ocean,  holding  a  very  woe-begone  face  to  the  sky, 
yet  supposed  to  be  singing  a  Sunday  school  hymn, 
filled  a  space  on  one  of  the  walls.  A  big  linen  map, 
detached  half  way  across  from  the  bottom  roller, 
and  curling  up  quite  extensively,  with  heavy  lines 
and  angles,  indicating  the  tours  of  the  first  apostles, 
occupied  a  space  on  the  opposite  wall.  Here  and 
there  were  some  mottoes  of  the  old  time  "  sampler" 
order,  to  which  the  Sunday  school  children  were 
supposed  to  look  for  help  and  inspiration  in  their 
moments  of  weariness.  The  whole  place  was  damp, 
grewsome,  chilly,  and  Dunbar  thought  that  the  Board 
of  Health  should  not  permit  children  to  be  cooped  up 
in  such  a  place.  Then  he  went  up  stairs,  where  he 


84  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

saw  stiff,  uncomfortable  pews ;  dusty,  faded  carpets ; 
cracked,  discolored  walls ;  a  wheezy  old  organ,  from 
which  the  soul  of  music  had  long  since  departed  ;  a 
pulpit  with  draperies  worn  and  ragged,  and  every 
thing  else  to  correspond. 

Hugh  Dnnbar  did  some  serious  thinking  as  he 
went  through  this  East  Side  church.  He  contrasted 
it  with  the  churches  on  Madison  and  Fifth  Avenues. 
He  thought  of  the  rich  decorations,  the  soft  carpets, 
the  inviting  pews,  the  blending  of  color,  the  lavish 
outlay  to  make  the  place  attractive.  Then  he 
thought  of  the  splendid  organ,  the  carefully  chosen 
choir,  the  imposing  service,  the  fashionable  congrega 
tion.  "  These  people  over  here,"  he  said  to  himself, 
"  are  our  brothers  and  sisters,  sharers  in  the  common 
lot,  children  of  the  same  Father ;  and  yet  we  have 
deserted  them.  Anything  more  selfish  or  cowardly 
is  hardly  possible." 

But  while  Mr.  Dunbar  met  with  many  serious 
discouragements,  he  was  more  than  compensated  in 
making  the  acquaintance  of  the  Rev.  Frank  Sterling, 
the  senior  clergyman  in  charge  of  the  Mission.  Mr. 
Sterling's  seniority,  however,  was  not  so  much  a 
matter  of  years,  for  he  had  barely  turned  thirty,  as 
of  experience  ;  he  having  been  associated  with  Mr. 
Hartley  in  the  Mission  for  some  time,  and  now,  ow 
ing  to  Mr.  Hartley's  removal  to  a  Western  city,  was 
in  full  charge.  Hugh  Dunbar  could  not  possibly 
have  fallen  into  better  hands,  for  Sterling  was  a 
genial,  hearty,  manly  fellow,  with  enough  of  the  Old 
Adam  remaining  to  keep  his  feet  on  the  ground  and 
have  human  blood  in  his  veins.  He  was  shrewd,  but 


A   SUNDAY  ON   THE    EAST   SIDE.  85 

not  cynical ;  keen,  but  not  bitter ;  religious,  but  not 
obnoxiously  pious. 

"  The  children  of  this  generation,"  he  said  to 
D unbar,  as  they  stood  on  the  street  corner  one  even 
ing,  "  are  wiser  than  the  children  of  light.  Look 
in  there  and  contrast  that  with  the  church  we  have 
just  left." 

Dunbar  looked  in  and  saw  embossed  ceilings,  at 
tractive  though  gaudy  decorations,  glittering  brass 
work,  and  any  quantity  of  light  and  color  and 
warmth. 

"Look  across  the  street,"  he  said  at  another  time, 
pointing  to  where  scores  and  hundreds  of  young 
people  were  crowding  into  a  cheap  theater.  "  Some 
of  the  wise  men  of  Gotham  should  try  to  solve  that 
problem." 

Hugh  made  some  very  proper  remark  about  over 
coming  evil  with  good,  whereupon  Sterling  said  : 

"  Of  course  those  of  us  who  have  boxes  at  the 
Carnegie  and  the  Metropolitan ;  who  attend  any 
number  of  fetes  in  the  season  ;  who  regard  yachts 
and  horses  and  country  houses  as  among  the  neces 
saries  of  life;  who  will  spend  on  bonbons  what 
would  support  a  family — we  will  think  that  those 
people,"  pointing  again  to  the  crowds  who  were  still 
thronging  in,  "  are  very  foolish  and  extravagant ;  but, 
Dunbar,  do  you  know  that  that  poor,  cheap,  miser 
able  show,  with  its  claptrap  and  tinsel,  is  about  all 
the  relaxation  multitudes  have.  How  so  many  of 
them  live  as  they  do  goodness  only  knows !  " 

They  walked  out  quite  frequently,  and  within 
easy  gunshot  of  the  church  Dunbar  found  almost 


86  DWELLERS  IN   GOTHAM. 

every  form  of  amusement  that  could  be  devised — 
music  halls,  dance  halls,  cheap  shows,  and  drinking 
places  without  number. 

"  I  was  a  good  deal  of  a  prig  when  I  first  came 
over  here,"  said  Sterling  one  evening,  after  a  walk  a 
little  longer  than  usual,  during  which  they  had  seen 
something  of  the  seamy  side  of  their  parish,  "  a 
proper,  prudish,  pious  prig ;  but  when  I  tried  to 
put  myself  in  the  place  of  some  of  these  people  I 
found  they  were  doing  better  than  I  would.  No 
man  knows  himself  until  he  has  been  tried.  You 
have  no  desire  to  steal,  but  what  if  you  were  hungry  ? 
You  have  no  wish  to  drink,  but  suppose  your  life 
was  utterly  dreary  and  hopeless  ?  You  cherish 
honor  and  virtue,  but  how  if  you  found  dishonor  and 
vice  much  more  profitable,  and  without  them  would 
starve?" 

Dunbar's  first  Sunday  in  his  new  parish  was  al 
most  as  discouraging  as  his  first  visit  to  the  Mission. 
As  he  made  his  way  he  could  not  but  notice  the 
swarms  of  people  who  crowded  the  streets.  Children 
of  all  ages  and  conditions  were  playing  in  their  usual 
noisy  way.  Women  with  babies  in  their  arms  were 
standing  around  doorways  or  sitting  on  the  steps. 
Younger  women  leaned  out  of  the  open  windows, 
many  of  them  with  frowsy  heads,  and  generally  un 
kempt  in  their  appearance.  Elderly  women  carried 
baskets  and  bundles,  as  if  they  were  coming  from 
the  grocery  store  or  meat  market.  Men  lounged 
around  carelessly,  most  of  them  smoking  short  clay 
pipes,  and  holding  such  generous  conversation  as 
could  be  heard  clear  across  the  street.  The  younger 


A  SUNDAY   ON   THE  EAST  SIDE.  87 

men  had  donned  their  Sunday  raiment,  and  as  a 
further  mark  of  Sabbath  observance  had  exchanged 
the  customary  pipe  for  a  pretentious  cigar. 

Nominally  the  saloons  at  the  corner  and  down  the 
avenue  were  closed,  but  Mr.  Dimbar  saw  numbers  of 
men  going  in  and  coming  out,  no  one  seeming  to 
mind  them.  In  fact,  none  of  the  stores  was  closed, 
and  people  were  making  their  purchases  just  as  on 
other  days.  Hugh  Dimbar  was  shocked  at  what  he 
saw,  and  later  when  he  came  to  know  Mr.  Sterling 
better  he  spoke  of  the  reckless  disregard  of  the  Sab 
bath. 

"  And  why  not?  "  was  the  startling  reply  of  Mr. 
Sterling.  "Many  of  these  people  were  at  work  till 
midnight,  and  had  no  other  time  to  do  their  market 
ing." 

Hugh  ventured  on  a  remonstrance,  but  Sterling 
was  prompt  in  his  answer:  "Dunbar,  there  is  a 
whole  pile  of  rubbish  to  be  cleared  away  before  we 
can  build  a  wall  of  Sabbath  observance  in  this  city. 
The  Saturday  half  holiday  must  apply  to  mills  and 
factories  as  well  as  banks  and  government  offices. 
Workmen  must  be  paid  off  earlier.  Stores  must 
close  earlier.  To  talk,  as  many  of  us  do,  about  the 
Fourth  Commandment  and  the  American  Sabbath  is 
utter  folly.  The  old  Jewish  plan  of  beginning  the 
day  before  needs  to  be  revived." 

When  Mr.  Dunbar  went  to  the  Mission  on  that 
first  Sunday  morning  a  confused,  mystified  expres 
sion  came  into  his  face  as,  in  glancing  quickly  over 
the  congregation,  he  saw  Sister  Nora.  Try  as  he 
would  he  could  not  quite  reconcile  her  with  either  the 


88  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

place  or  the  congregation.  She  sat  under  the  gallery, 
on  the  side,  in  such  relations  to  the  window  as  to  be 
in  the  shade,  her  face  also  partially  hidden,  and  yet 
the  impression  deepened  upon  Dunbar  that  he  had 
met  her  before,  but  where  he  could  not  recall.  He 
tried  faithfully  to  follow  the  order  of  service ;  still 
his  mind,  and  his  eyes  too,  reverted  unconsciously  to 
the  quiet  figure  in  the  pew  under  the  gallery.  One 
moment  he  was  certain,  the  next  he  was  uncertain. 
One  time  a  name  almost  leaped  to  his  lips,  only  to 
be  dismissed  as  wildly  improbable. 

Mnemonics  is  a  great  science ;  so  is  metaphysics  ; 
so  is  everything  that  relates  to  the  movement  of 
mind  and  spirit ;  but  when  one  is  anxious  to  connect 
a  face  with  a  name  or  a  name  with  a  face  it  is  sur 
prising  how  little  help  science  affords.  At  the  close 
of  the  service  Mr.  Sterling  said  : 

"  I  am  anxious  for  you  to  meet  Sister  Nora,"  and 
in  a  few  moments  Mr.  Dunbar  was  introduced  to 
the  very  person  who  had  so  deeply  interested  him. 
As  the  one  looked  at  the  other  instantly  there  was  a 
flash  of  recognition,  though  neither  spoke,  just 
gravely  bowing.  Mr.  Sterling  being  called  aside, 
Sister  Nora  quietly  said  : 

"  Mr.  Dunbar,  as  you  are  here  on  the  same  errand 
as  I  am  let  me  be  *  Sister  Nora,'  which  for  the  time 
being  is  sufficient  for  all  purposes." 

"  Then  Mr.  Sterling  does  not  know  ?  " 

"  He  knows  my  name,  and  that  I  have  come  from 
the  other  side  of  the  city,  but  not  much  more.  At 
least  I  think  not." 

"  The  same  is  true  in  my  case,"  Mr.  Dunbar  said. 


A  SUNDAY  ON  THE  EAST  SIDE.  89 

"Then  we  understand  each  other?" 

"  I  hope  so." 

It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  this  chapter  fully  ex 
plains  itself;  still,  like  the  stern  lights  of  a  ship,  it 
may  throw  some  gleams  upon  waters  over  which  we 
have  already  sailed. 


90  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Why  Elinor  Became  "Sister  Nora." 

f  LINOR  ARLINGTON,  known  to  us  as  "  Sister 
Nora,"  was  the  daughter  and  only  child  of  a 
wealthy  New  York  merchant,  who  died  just 
before  our  story  opens,  leaving  her  a  large  fortune. 
Her  life  had  not  been  a  happy  one.  Mr.  Arlington, 
a  man  of  the  Mark  Brompton  type,  had  given  him 
self  unreservedly  to  business  ;  hence  the  entire  burden 
of  social  duties  and  obligations  fell  upon  his  wrife. 
In  the  beginning  Mrs.  Arlington  was  a  sweet, 
gentle,  though  somewhat  romantic  woman ;  given  a 
little  to  certain  fancies  and  ambitions,  but  as  life 
took  on  its  more  real  phases  the  visions  of  girlhood 
gradually  disappeared.  She  was  rich,  and  according 
to  the  popular  notion  should  have  been  happy,  but 
she  was  not  happy — far  from  it.  She  was  the  mis 
tress  of  a  large  and  elegant  house,  but  there  is  a  vast 
difference  between  a  house  and  a  home,  and  hers 
was  only  a  house.  She  had  that  which  is  supposed 
to  meet  the  full  desire  of  a  woman's  hope — a  rich  and 
varied  wardrobe,  but  slie  had  an  empty,  desolate  heart. 
For  some  time  after  Elinor  was  born  Mrs.  Arling 
ton  seemed  much  as  in  the  more  simple  and  joyous 
days,  but  her  husband  was  ambitions,  social  demands 
were  inexorable ;  so  her  little  daughter  was  given  to 
the  care  of  servants,  and  the  old.  monotonous  life 
was  resumed.  Not  possessing  any  particular  strength 


WHY    ELINOR   BECAME   "SISTER  NORA."          91 

of  character,  and  not  being  fitted  specially  for  leader 
ship,  her  position  in  the  procession  was  not  a  very 
conspicuous  one,  still  she  had  to  keep  inarching 
with  the  others. 

If  one  has  any  choice  of  position  in  the  social 
parade,  the  best  place,  most  assuredly,  is  up  close  to 
the  band,  for  leadership,  though  attended  with  some 
embarrassment,  has  the  compensation  of  prominence. 
The  next  best  place  is  at  the  rear,  as  it  affords  op 
portunity  of  dropping  out  in  a  quiet,  unobtrusive 
way.  The  most  difficult  and  tiresome  station  in  the 
procession  is  that  of  the  main  body ;  for  it  does  noth 
ing  except  march  under  orders. 

Mrs.  Arlington  was  in  the  main  body,  and  just 
marched  with  the  others.  She  went  to  the  opera ; 
she  went  to  the  horse  show ;  she  went  to  a  prescribed 
number  of  entertainments;  she  went  to  the  usual 
functions.  For  several  seasons  she  kept  her  place  in 
the  ranks,  then  she  slackened ;  her  uniform  wasn't 
quite  so  jaunty,  nor  worn  with  such  effect ;  her  step 
dragged  a  little  at  times,  though  she  smiled  and  pre 
tended  it  was  a  stumble,  and  her  face,  despite  its 
"  pipe  clay,"  began  to  show  the  strain.  At  length 
she  dropped,  dropped  right  down  ;  so  the  ambulance 
was  sent  for,  and  she  was  carried  out  of  the  ranks. 

"  Utter  exhaustion,"  said  Dr.  Disney,  as  he  laid 
his  practiced  fingers  on  her  wrist,  feeling,  in  that 
tender,  delicate  way  of  his,  for  the  pulse  which  he 
knew  was  both  feeble  and  irregular.  "  Tired  out," 
he  murmured,  sympathetically,  after  he  had  found 
the  pulse,  for  it  was  even  weaker  and  more  intermit 
tent  than  he  had  feared. 
7 


92  DWELLERS    IN   GOTHAM. 

"  Mrs.  Arlington  must  have  a  complete  rest,"  lie 
said  in  the  library  to  Mr.  Arlington,  when  he  had 
completed  his  examination.  "  She  has  been  over 
doing  of  late.  Too  much  care ;  too  much  respon 
sibility  ;  too  many  burdens  for  one  so  sensitive  and 
highly  organized." 

"Too  much  care!"  repeated  Philip  Arlington, 
after  Dr.  Disney  had  gone,  and  he  was  thinking  over 
what  the  doctor  had  said.  "  She  had  no  care  what 
ever,  at  least  none  that  I  knew  of." 

"  Too  much  responsibility  !  "  he  went  on.  "  What 
possible  responsibility  did  she  have?" 

"  Too  many  burdens ! "  he  continued.  "  But  what 
woman  had  a  lighter  or  easier  life  ? " 

He  had  taken  her  from  a  little  parsonage,  back 
among  the  Connecticut  hills,  where  for  years  her 
father  had  ministered  to  a  well-meaning  but  rather 
austere  people.  In  this  quiet  country  home  her  life, 
though  limited  in  many  ways,  was  as  free  from  taint 
as  the  snow,  which  lay  a  heavenly  white,  gleaming  in 
the  winter's  sun.  No  flower  of  the  early  summer 
was  more  deliciously  sweet  or  innocent  as  she  stood 
beside  him  on  that  June  morning  in  her  father's  little 
church,  and  repeated  the  solemn  words  which  fell  so 
impressively  from  her  father's  lips. 

They  had  known  each  other  from  childhood. 
Phil  Arlington  had  been  her  sturdy  little  champion 
when  they  both  attended  the  district  school.  He 
fought  her  battles  every  time  it  was  necessary,  and  a 
good  many  times  when  it  was  not  necessary.  He 
pulled  her  sled  with  his  as  they  went  to  the  top  of 
the  hill  where  the  "  coast "  started,  and  woe  betide 


WHY    ELINOR   BECAME    "SISTER    NORA."  93 

the  boy  who  "  interfered  "  or  attempted  to  "  run  her 
down."  Once  Bill  Jukes,  who  was  steering  the 
"  double  runner "  upon  which  she  was  a  passenger, 
managed  to  tip  over  the  whole  load  in  a  way  which 
was  too  awkward  to  be  accidental,  but  though  Phil 
said  nothing  just  then,  yet  next  morning  when  Bill 
Jukes  appeared  in  school  his  nose  was  demoralized, 
his  upper  lip  was  badly  cut,  and  his  face  had  various 
signals  of  distress.  The  fact  that  Phil  could  not 
hold  either  pen  or  pencil  in  his  right  hand  for  two 
or  three  days  was  never  fully  explained,  but  some 
how  there  was  an  impression  all  through  the 
school  that  the  condition  of  Phil's  hand  accounted 
for  Bill  Jukes's  nose. 

After  Phil  went  to  Dan  Hubbard's  grocery  store 
as  a  sort  of  clerk  it  was  noticed  that  Jennie  Randall 
had  a  great  many  errands  in  that  grocery  store,  and 
never  complained  no  matter  how  often  her  mother 
sent  her  to  make  purchases. 

It  was  a  sad  day  for  both  of  them  when  Phil  went 
to  New  York  to  enter  upon  business,  but  he  went 
with  her  picture  in  his  heart,  her  kiss  upon  his  lips, 
and  her  father's  promise  to  give  her  to  him  when  he 
had  a  home  ready. 

All  these  things  went  through  Mr.  Arlington's 
mind,  as  with  sad,  anxious  face  he  sat  in  his  library, 
pondering  the  words  of  Dr.  Disney  : 

"  Too  much  care,  too  much  responsibility,  too  many 
burdens." 

"  And  what  care  had  she  ? "  he  kept  asking  him 
self.  He  forgot  that  she  had  self-care,  self-interests, 
the  most  distressing  of  care,  for  a  life  which  has  no 


94  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

interests  but  its  own  is  self-absorbed,  and  having  no 
centrifugal  force  to  swing  it  out  upon  tin  orbit  of 
usefulness,  is  soon  drawn  within  the  narrowest  of 
circles,  and  becomes  a  poor,  helpless  thing. 

And  the  same  was  true  of  her  burdens  and  respon 
sibilities.  They  were  all  her  own.  There  was  noth 
ing  vicarious  in  them.  She  was  not  bearing  or  suf 
fering  for  others.  Her  life  had  no  great  motive  in 
it,  which,  like  the  fly  wheel  of  an  engine,  holds  and 
balances  the  power. 

The  machine,  therefore,  went  all  to  pieces,  and 
though  Dr.  Disney  knew  that  the  case  was  a  very 
serious  one,  yet  it  was  even  more  serious  than  he 
imagined. 

Perhaps  if  Philip  Arlington  had  been  content 
with  his  fair  proportion  of  "  bread,"  all  this  would  not 
have  happened.  While  he  was  laboring  for  more 
than  lie  ever  could  consume,  his  wife  was  dying  of 
soul  hunger.  lie  had  vowed  most  solemnly  "  to  love 
and  to  cherish,"  and  while  in  one  way  he  had  done 
both,  in  another  way  he  had  done  neither. 

Mrs.  Arlington  would  have  been  content  with 
coarse,  cheap  "  bread  "  if  with  it  she  could  have  had 
the  joy  and  companionship  of  the  one  whose  presence 
made  all  of  life  for  her. 

"Phil,"  she  said  one  day,  as  he  sat  beside  her 
couch,  for  she  was  now  unable  to  leave  her  room, 
"  I  wish  you  would  send  for  Elinor." 

"  I  have  sent  for  her,"  he  answered.  "  She  will 
be  here  to-morrow,  though  I  meant  it  as  a  pleasant 
surprise  for  you." 

"  Thank  you,"  she  gratefully  responded.     "  I  am 


WHY   ELINOR   BECAME   "SISTER   NORA."       ,    95 

sorry  to  call  her  home  just  now,  but  I  feel  very 
lonely  at  times.  You  see  you  are  away  so  much;" 
and  there  was  a  catch  in  her  voice  which  suggested 
the  possibilities  of  a  sob. 

On  the  morrow  Elinor  came.  She  had  been  away 
a  great  deal  during  the  past  few  years,  for  Mr.  Ar 
lington  preferred  that  both  her  preparatory  and  col 
lege  work  should  be  done  at  some  distance  from  the 
city,  Elinor  not  being  specially  vigorous  or  robust. 

Mother  and  daughter  soon  began  to  understand 
each  other,  the  inner  life  of  the  one  being  quick 
ened  by  illness,  and  that  of  the  other  by  sympathy ; 
and  like  flowers  turning  to  the  light,  so  they  turned 
toward  each  other.  Consequently  out  of  a  relation 
which  in  the  beginning  was  almost  formal  there 
came  up  a  holy  affection  which  blossomed  in  exqui 
site  beauty,  filling  the  whole  house  with  its  sweet 
and  delicious  fragrance. 

"My  life,  Elinor,  has  been  a  sad  mistake,"  Mrs. 
Arlington  said  one  morning,  as  Elinor  sat  beside  her 
mother's  bed,  having  just  closed  a  book  from  which 
she  had  been  reading.  "  I  have  lived  only  for  my 
self,"  she  went  on,  "and  it  has  been  poor,  pitiful  liv 
ing." 

Early  that  morning,  long  before  Elinor  was  awake, 
Mrs.  Arlington's  memories  had  gor.e  back  to  the 
little  parsonage  in  the  Connecticut  hills.  She  had 
heard  the  birds  sing  in  the  rich,  sweet  notes  of  her 
girlhood,  notes  that  lifted  themselves  into  the  bend 
ing  sky,  and  went  on  to  join  the  chorus  of  the  an 
gels.  She  had  heard  the  hum  of  the  bees,  as  they 
came  and  went  from  the  honeysuckle  at  the  door  of 


%  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

the  rnanse,  taking  something  of  its  wondrous  sweet 
ness,  but  leaving  enough  to  fill  the  air  with  that 
dainty  perfume. 

She  had  heard  her  father's  voice  as  in  the  little 
garden  his  song  broke  out : 

"  Awake,  my  soul,  and  with  the  sun 

Thy  daily  stage  of  duty  run." 

She  had  heard  her  mother  calling  her  as  was  her 
wont,  "  Jennie  !""  Jennie !"  a  tender,  loving  em 
phasis  upon  each  word. 

The  dear  little  parsonage  is  now  occupied  by 
strangers.  Her  father  sleeps  not  far  from  the  church 
in  which  he  had  ministered  for  so  many  years.  Be 
side  his  grave  is  that  of  her  mother,  while  she  is 
here,  alone  in  this  mighty  city,  looking  sadly  back 
upon  days  which  never  can  return. 

"Elinor,"  she  said,  at  another  time  when  they 
were  alone  and  were  having  one  of  their  serious 
heart-to-heart  talks,  "  I  have  heard  the  cry  of  the 
children  and  the  moan  of  the  poor,  but  I  was  so 
taken  up  with  my  own  concerns  that  I  gave  them 
no  heed.  O,  I  am  ashamed  to  die,  for  I  have  done 
nothing  for  anyone  but  myself! " 

"  Disturbed  sleep.  Feverish  conditions.  Restless 
nights,"  said  Dr.  Disney,  even  more  tenderly  and 
sympathetically,  for  lie  was  now  fully  aware  of  the 
extreme  gravity  of  Mrs.  Arlington's  illness. 

"Nora,"  she  said  one  day,  for  that  was  her  pet 
name  for  Elinor,  "  I  am  not  going  to  exact  a  promise 
from  you,  but  if  you  have  opportunity,  will  you  do 
something  for  me  after — after  I  am  gone  ? "  looking 
wistfully  into  the  tearful  face  of  her  daughter. 


WHY  ELINOR   BECAME   "SISTER  NORA."      ,    97 

Elinor  could  not  speak,  but  Mrs.  Arlington  felt  the 
silent  promise  which  was  made. 

"  Then  do  something  for  those  to  whom  life  is 
so  hard,  and  for  whom  so  little  is  being  done.  Per 
haps  in  some  way  you  can  atone  for  my  selfishness 
and  sin,"  turning  her  poor,  worn  face  to  the  window, 
and  looking  out  with  weary,  anxious  eyes  upon  the 
sky,  from  which  the  light  was  now  fading. 

After  a  few  moments  she  spoke  again  : 

"  You  can  do  what  you  think  best.  Perhaps  you 
might  put  a  bed  in  some  hospital,  or  a  room  in  a 
home  for  old  people,  or  something  else  may  seem  even 
better,  but  whatever  you  do,  remember  me,  dear, 
won't  you  ? " 

Then  came  the  terrible  days,  when  Philip  Arling 
ton  would  joyously  have  given  his  whole  fortune  if 
he  could  only  have  gone  back  and  started  life  with 
her  once  more.  And  how  different  the  new  life 
would  be !  But  it  was  too  late.  The  bread  for 
which  she  had  hungered  so  long  was  not  now  within 
reach,  and  she  starved  to  death ! 

At  first  Mr.  Arlington  hardly  realized  the  full 
force  of  the  blow,  but  gradually  there  came  upon 
him  a  feeling  of  utter  desolation.  For  a  time  he 
tried  to  absorb  himself  even  more  fully  in  business, 
hoping  in  this  way  to  deaden  something  of  his  pain, 
but  when  he  returned  in  the  evening  the  house 
seemed  so  lonely  and  deserted,  more  like  a  house  in 
habited  by  ghosts  and  shadows  than  by  living,  human 
creatures. 

Elinor  did  the  best  she  could  to  comfort  the 
stricken  man,  but  his  grief  was  too  deep  and  his 


98  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

sorrow  too  heavy  for  even  such  sympathy  as  hers. 
And  then  came  the  bitter  remembrance  that  he  had 
neglected  his  wife,  that  in  his  eager,  determined  pur 
suit  of  wealth  he  had  left  her  alone,  and  that  had  it 
not  been  for  his  selfishness  she  might  still  be  with 
him.  At  such  times  conscience  was  implacable. 
Sternly  it  directed  his  horror-stricken  eyes  to  scenes 
and  events  back  in  the  distant  years.  Poor  Philip 
Arlington !  The  world  said  that  he  was  a  rich  man, 
but  at  heart  he  was  poor  and  desolate. 

One  morning  the  rising  bell  rang  out  as  loudly  as 
it  ever  did,  but  Philip  Arlington  did  not  hear  it. 
He  would  never  hear  it  again  ! 

Dr.  Disney  said  it  was  angina  pcctoris,  and  so 
tilled  out  the  certificate ;  but  had  he  given  the  com 
mon  translation — breast  pang — only  allowing  the 
pang  to  be  of  the  spirit  and  not  of  the  flesh,  his 
return  to  the  registrar  would  have  been  the  exact 
truth.  While  yet  in  the  very  prime  of  life — with 
what  should  have  been  his  best  years  still  before 
him ;  with  strength  and  time  and  opportunity  all 
spent  upon  pursuits  that  were  purely  selfish  ;  with  no 
memorial  of  life  or  character  save  that  which  could 
be  written  on  a  balance  sheet — Philip  Arlington 
passed  out  from  the  world  of  men,  leaving  everything 
behind  him,  and  going  as  poor  as  when  he  was  born 
into  the  unseen  and  unknown. 

"We  understand  now  why  it  is  that  "  Sister  Nora  " 
is  present  at  the  East  Side  church  to  give  greetings 
and  welcome  to  Hugh  Dunbar  on  that  Sunday 
morning  spoken  of  in  the  preceding  chapter. 


HUGH  DUN  BAR  HAS  A  REVELATION.    '  99 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Hugh  Dunbar  Has  a  Revelation. 

T  <UGH  DUNBAR  was  exceedingly  fortunate  in 
I — 1  being  the  grandson  of  his  grandfather.  Any- 
\J  one  can  have  a  father.  The  right  to  have  a 
father  is  generally  conceded,  nor  is  there  anything 
remarkable  in  having  almost  any  kind  of  a  father. 
But  when  a  man  has  had  a  grandfather,  an  actual, 
definite,  tangible  grandfather,  a  grandfather  of 
material  substance  and  earthly  possessions,  such  a 
man  may  well  be  envied.  For  most  surely  it  is 
written  in  the  laws  of  the  Gothamites  that  without 
a  grandfather  none  can  enter  the  heaven  of  the  elect, 
but  must  ever  remain  outside  blue-blood  paradise,  an 
alien  and  a  wanderer. 

Hugh  Dunbar,  therefore,  had  good  cause  for 
devout  thanksgiving.  Moreover,  his  grandfather 
was  no  ordinary  mortal,  for  when  certain  parts  of 
Gotham  were  under  the  control  of  the  festive  goat ; 
when  sundry  other  parts  gave  pasturage  to  saintly 
looking  sheep ;  when  City  Hall  Park  was  so  far  up 
town  as  to  be  considered  in  the  distant  suburbs,  the 
aforesaid  grandfather  invested  his  entire  savings  in 
Goatville  and  Sheeptown.  Canny  old  Scot !  And 
not  so  very  old,  either,  for  before  his  head  was 
whitened  with  the  frosts  of  years  (he  was  as  bald  as  a 
door  knob,  but  "  frosts  of  years  "  sounds  well)  he  had 
the  assurance  of  great  wealth.  Originally  his  family 


100  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

consisted  of  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  but  the  sons, 
like  good  little  boys  in  Sunday  school  books,  refused 
to  remain  in  this  wicked  world.  The  daughter  tarried 
long  enough  to  get  married  and  present  Hugh  to  the 
admiring  gaze  of  his  grandfather,  but  not  even  the 
possibilities  of  a  residence  in  Sheeptown  could  detain 
her  upon  this  sublunary  sphere. 

A  lonesome  life  Hugh  had  during  his  boyhood. 
His  father,  after  a  term  of  decorous  mourning,  married 
again,  this  time  a  Southern  lady,  and  went  South, 
where  he  remained  till  he  died,  a  comparatively 
short  period.  Fortunately  for  Hugh,  his  mother's 
cousin,  Mrs.  Brooke,  a  sweet,  motherly  woman,  was 
able  to  assume  some  care  over  him,  so  that  he  was 
not  entirely  alone.  Having  no  parents,  no  brothers 
or  sisters,  forming  no  companionships  with  those  of 
his  own  age,  he  was  thrown  almost  entirely  upon  his 
own  resources ;  hence  when  but  a  lad  he  was  grave 
and  sober  as  a  man  of  mature  years.  His  grand 
father,  being  quite  content  with  Goatville  and  Sheep- 
town,  had  no  desire  to  leave  a  world  in  which  he  was 
so  deeply  interested  for  one  in  which  he  had  no  in 
terest  whatever ;  therefore  he  remained  with  Hugh 
just  as  long  as  it  was  possible. 

In  due  time  Hugh  went  to  college,  this  being  his 
grandfather's  special  desire.  At  college  he  was  not 
enough  of  a  grind  to  call  for  special  notice  from  the 
faculty,  nor  was  he  enough  of  a  sport  to  arouse  en 
thusiasm  among  the  athletes.  He  was  a  good,  fair 
student,  and  that  was  all.  During  his  senior  year  he 
became  acquainted  with  John  Disney,  whose  matter- 
of-fact  philosophy  and  genial  cynicism  quickened  him 


HUGH   DUNBAR   HAS  A   REVELATION.  101 

occasionally  to  the  extent  of  a  smile.  When  he  an 
nounced  his  intention  of  becoming  a  clergyman  no 
one  was  surprised,  though  it  was  generally  assumed 
that  one  so  wealthy  as  he  was  would  become  the 
popular  pastor  of  some  chapel- at-ease  rather  than  enter 
upon  the  duty  of  a  regular  parish. 

But  our  lives  are  influenced  by  the  veriest  trifles. 
Just  as  a  pebble  on  a  mountain  height  may  divide  a 
stream,  causing  a  divergence  which  results  in  rivers 
flowing  into  opposite  oceans,  so  some  insignificant 
thing  will  affect  all  of  human  destiny. 

Mrs.  Brooke,  on  her  daughter  Olive's  birthday, 
gave  a  quiet  dinner  to  a  few  friends  (Mrs.  Brooke 
now  lived  with  Hugh  in  the  D unbar  mansion,  for 
the  grandfather  had  been  dead  some  time),  and  in 
the  course  of  the  evening  there  was  a  pleasant  but 
animated  discussion  on  the  general  theme  of  the  rela 
tions  between  the  poor  and  the  rich.  In  this  discus 
sion  Hugh  Dunbar  was  much  interested,  speaking  as 
well  as  listening. 

"  I  don't  quite  see  where  rich  people,  as  we  call 
them,  have  any  special  duties  to  poor  people,  or  any 
particular  responsibilities  in  the  case,"  young  Mr 
Brentwood  said,  in  a  loud,  assertive  sort  of  way,  at  the 
same  moment  helping  himself  to  a  peach,  which  peach, 
at  that  particular  season,  cost  more  than  the  whole  din- 
rer  of  some  of  his  father's  workmen,  for  his  father 
had  a  large  interest  in  two  or  three  of  the  big  iron 
mills  at  Pittsburg. 

"  They  are  paid  their  wages — many  of  them  well 
paid — and  they  should  look  out  for  themselves,"  was 
his  next  remark,  as  he  went  on  peeling  the  peach. 


102  DWELLERS  IN   GOTHAM. 

"  So  long  as  the  machine  does  its  work  it  has  a 
right  to  the  oil  for  its  bearings  or  the  belting  for  its 
pulleys,  is  then  your  theory  ? "  put  in  Fergus  Finlay, 
a  member  of  the  same  class  in  college  with  Hugh 
but  who  now  dabbled  a  little  in  electrical  engineering, 
which  explains  his  figure  of  speech. 

"  Yes,  practically  so,"  Brentwood  replied. 

"  Then  how  about  repairs  ?  How  about  the  time 
when  the  machine  is  worn  out,  when  instead  of  being 
a  producer  it  is  nothing  but  old  iron  ?  " 

"  Why  not  have  recourse  to  the  smelting  pot  ? " 
suggested  Tom  Scranton,  a  bright,  wide-awake  young 
fellow,  who  already  was  something  of  an  expert  in 
mining  matters,  and  who  was  supposed,  with  good 
reason  too,  to  be  considerably  interested  in  some  of 
Mark  Brompton's  schemes. 

The  talk  soon  drifted  into  other  channels,  and  the 
little  wordy  boats,  after  the  manner  of  the  paper 
playthings  of  our  childhood,  sailed  about,  bobbing 
and  colliding  very  delightfully,  though  sometimes 
very  nonsensically.  But  what  would  you?  This 
gray  old  world  of  ours  would  be  a  dull  place  without 
the  light  hearts  and  the  merry  voices  of  young  people. 
These  ancient  towers  in  all  the  mystery  of  the  de 
parted  centuries  need  the  fresh,  green  ivy  to  relieve 
them  of  their  gauntness,  while  in  the  ivy  young  birds 
chatter  and  chirrup  and  even  swoop  and  circle  over 
the  very  churchyard. 

In  this  company  was  a  Mr.  Bramwell,  a  distant 
relative  of  Hugh  Dunbar,  who,  after  the  more  formal 
guests  had  gone,  remained,  going  up  to  Hugh's  den 
for  a  long,  confidential  chat. 


HUGH    DUNBAR   HAS  A   REVELATION.  103 

"You  noticed,"  Bramwell  said,  once  they  were 
fairly  under  way,  "Low  easily  Finlay  disposed  of 
Brentwood  in  the  talk  down  stairs  ?  " 

Hugh  nodded. 

"  And  yet  from  his  standpoint  Brentwood  is  per 
fectly  right." 

Again  Hugh  nodded,  but  this  time  the  nod  was  not 
so  much  in  assent  as  in  token  of  attention. 

"  I  see  you  don't  fully  subscribe  to  this,  and  yet  on 
the  principle  that  'business  is  business'  Brentwood 
could  take  no  other  position." 

"  You  think,  then,  that  when  a  man  has  paid  his 
workmen  their  wages  they  have  no  further  claim  on 
him  ? "  Hugh  asked  this  question  with  a  good  deal 
of  surprise,  for  he  knew  something  of  Bramwell  and 
the  opinions  which  he  held. 

"It  altogether  depends  upon  what  you  call  a 
'  claim '  and  the  reasons  with  which  it  may  be  urged." 

"  A  claim  is  something  to  which  one  has  an  un 
doubted  right,  and  the  grounds  for  that  claim  are 
common  justice." 

"Then  Brentwood  was  right,  for  when  you  pay 
Smithers  or  Hobbes  or  anyone  else  'a  fair  day's 
wages  for  a  fair  day's  work'  you  have  done  all  that 
'right'  is  entitled  to  and  all  that  'common  justice' 
can  honestly  demand." 

"  Then  why  all  this  strife,  this  terrible  suffering, 
this  fearful  burden  of  poverty  and  wrong  ? " 

"  For  the  simple  reason  that  there  are  higher  obli 
gations  than  those  of  mere  business,  and  it  is  the 
failure  on  our  part  to  realize  these  obligations  which 
causes  the  trouble." 


104  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ? " 

"  Just  this  :  business  knows  nothing  of  the  law  of 
kindness.  It  is  an  eye  for  an  eye  and  a  tooth  for  a 
tooth — so  much  for  so  much.  The  man  is  put  in  the 
scale  and  weighed  against  weights  of  iron.  So  much 
skill,  so  much  strength,  so  much  labor,  so  much 
wages.  "When  his  eye  dims,  his  strength  weakens, 
his  skill  declines,  then  the  beam  goes  against  him. 
Now  that  is  business  pure  and  simple.  It  matters 
nothing  that  for  thirty  years  that  man  has  given  the 
best  of  his  life  to  the  firm  in  which  he  has  been 
employed.  Out  he  must  go.  The  firm  must  have 
younger  men,  fresher  blood,  greater  skill.  This,  my 
dear  Dunbar,  is  what  the  world  calls  business,  and 
most  of  the  great  enterprises  of  to-day  are  conducted 
on  this  principle." 

"  Then  what  becomes  of  the  man  who  has  been 
unable  to  provide  against  this  day  of  misfortune?" 

"Ah!  now  you  are  coming  to  Finlay's  putting  of 
it :  when  the  machine  needs  repairs,  or  perhaps  is  too 
far  gone  for  repairs.  "What  a  pity  that  we  cannot 
work  out  Scrantou's  idea,  and  when  people  are  worn 
and  useless  put  them  in  the  smelt  pot  and  have  them 
nade  over  again! " 

"  There  is  something  wrong,  but  just  what  I  don't 
know,"  said  Hugh,  in  a  baffled,  helpless  way,  for  he 
could  not  quite  understand  Mr.  Bramwell's  statement 
of  the  case. 

""Wrong !"  exclaimed  Mr.  Bramwell,  and  speaking 
with  much  feeling,  "wrong  is  too  paltry  a  word;  say 
'  sin,'  '  shame/  '  crime.' " 

Then  neither  of  them  spoke  for  a  few  minutes, 


HUGH    DUNBAR   HAS  A   REVELATION.  105 

each  busy  with  his  own  thoughts,  and  yet  each  wait- 
ins:  for  the  other  to  resume  the  conversation. 

r5 

"If,  instead  of  discussing  this  theme  as  a  matter  of 
business,  we  take  it  up  as  a  question  of  divine  obliga 
tion  and  common  humanity,  we  shall  then  reach  the 
plane  where  it  properly  belongs,"  Mr.  Bramwell  said, 
breaking  the  silence  before  it  had  become  embarrass 
ing. 

"  Then  your  remedy  is — " 

"No!  my  remedy  is  not,"  interrupted  Mr.  Bram 
well.  "  I  have  no  remedy.  No  man  has  a  remedy. 
This  whole  matter  must  be  worked  out  upon  lines 
and  principles  altogether  different  from  those  now  in 
operation.  But  I  want  you  to  do  as  I  have  done — 
see  these  things  for  yourself.  Go  over  among  the 
poor  of  the  East  Side.  You  are  a  property  owner  in 
the  lower  parts  of  this  city.  See  some  of  your  own 
tenants.  It  may  be  that  you  indirectly  are  respon 
sible  for  some  of  this  misery." 

Bramwell  had  no  wish  to  hurt  Mr.  Dunbar ;  quite 
the  opposite  ;  but  he  had  a  way  of  telling  the  truth 
in  the  plainest  of  terms,  a  way,  though,  which  cost 
him  many  of  his  best  friends,  and  a  way  which  often 
times  is  very  foolish. 

Hugh,  however,  was  too  much  in  earnest  to  be 
offended  easily  ;  still  he  offered  such  a  defense  as  came 
to  him. 

"  Yes,  I  know  all  about  the  saloon,  and  agree  with 
what  you  have  said ;  your  remarks  concerning  the 
waste  and  foolishness  of  our  working  people  I  also 
accept,  but  when  all  is  said  it  yet  remains  that  there 
are  hundreds,  thousands  even,  who  cannot  get  bread 


106  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

enough  to  keep  them  alive,  who  cannot  find  employ 
ment  by  which  to  earn  bread,  and  who  are  positively 
starving." 

"  But  haven't  we  bureaus  of  charity  and  many  other 
such  organizations  for  the  relief  of  these  very  people  ?" 
answered  Dunbar,  and  with  considerable  warmth,  for 
the  thought  of  men  and  women  suffering  actual  hun 
ger  in  his  own  city  touched  him  deeply. 

"  My  dear  Hugh,  the  real  poor  hide  their  poverty 
as  one  would  a  family  skeleton.  Charity  officers 
never  find  them  out.  Perfunctory  visitations  are 
utterly  valueless  in  their  case.  The  terribly  poor  are 
those  who  will  die  of  hunger,  and  rather  than  tell 
their  poverty  will  carry  their  secret  to  the  grave." 

"  Then,  God  helping  me,  I  will  share  my  life  with 
them,"  Dunbar  exclaimed.  "  I  may  not  be  able  to 
build  a  cathedral  or  found  a  library,  but  I  can  do 
something  for  my  poor  brothers  and  sisters." 

They  talked  on  for  some  time  longer,  and  when 
the  conversation  ended  Hugh  Dunbar  had  his  plans 
well  in  hand. 

Thus  it  came  to  pass  that  on  that  eventful  Sunday 
morning  he  was  in  the  East  Side  church  to  receive 
the  greetings  of  Sister  Nora. 


A  TORTOISE  AND    HIS  SHELL.  107 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
A  Tortoise  and  His  Shell. 

IN  his  home  Dr.  Disney  was  the  same  gracious, 
courteous  gentleman  as  everywhere  else,  a  fact 
which  must  be  borne  in  mind  when  his  case  goes 
to  the  jury.  This  circumstance  in  itself  will  entitle 
him  to  much  consideration,  particularly  if  the  jury  is 
worthy  and  conscientious.  For  this  is  by  no  means 
a  common  rule  with  men,  nor  with  women  either, 
sad  as  it  is  to  make  the  confession.  Most  of  us  at 
home  are  very  different  persons  from  what  we  are  in 
society.  In  society  we  smile  and  bow;  we  make 
pretty  speeches ;  we  are  gracious  even  to  those  we 
cordially  detest ;  we  are  nothing  if  we  are  not  polite ; 
but  in  the  quiet  of  our  homes  we  are .  Bless 
ings  on  the  man  who  invented  pauses !  How  much 
one  can  say  at  times  and  yet  not  speak  a  word  ! 

But  at  home  Dr.  Disney  was,  if  anything,  even 
more  gracious  than  when  engaged  in  professional 
service,  for  with  the  charming  suavity  of  his  general 
bearing  there  was  a  refined  humor  which  made  him 
a  delightful  presence. 

"  Madge,"  he  said,  some  days  after  the  evening  of 
Hugh  Dunbar's  visit,  as  they  were  at  breakfast, 
"  John's  friend  seems  to  be  a  bright,  pleasant  sort  of 
a  fellow ;  a  little  odd  in  his  notions,  perhaps,  but 
then  young  clergymen  are  all  the  more  popular  on 
that  account." 


108  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

There  was  no  particular  reason  why  Madge  should 
flush  just  a  little  and  for  a  moment  or  two  seem 
embarrassed.  Poor  Madge  had  not  quite  recovered 
from  the  Cone}7  Island  incident  and  her  treatment  of 
a  certain  East  Side  clergyman. 

"Yon  mean  Dunbar?"  asked  John,  dividing  his 
attention  between  the  question  and  a  huge  straw 
berry  which  he  was  balancing  on  his  fork  prepara 
tory  to  a  more  perfect  study  of  its  inward  parts. 

"  Yes,  I  mean  Dunbar,"  answered  the  doctor,  a 
mild  twinkle  in  his  eye,  for  he  had  noticed  the  ac 
cession  of  color  to  Madge's  face. 

u  His  notions  are  peculiar,  but  then  " — deftly  drop 
ping  a  slice  of  lemon  into  her  cup  of  iced  tea,  and 
speaking  in  her  usual  easy  way,  Madge  went  on — "  he 
will  probably  outgrow  most  of  them.  When  he  is  as 
old  as  Dr.  Bland  he  may  be  just  as  sensible." 

There  was  no  need  for  Madge  to  drop  any  of  the 
sliced  lemon  into  her  voice,  but  she  did  nevertheless. 
Still  that  is  a  way  we  have.  When  we  do  a  person 
one  wrong  we  are  wont  to  follow  it  up  with  another. 

Dr.  Disney  said  nothing  in  reply  ;  John  found  his 
strawberry  all  that  he  had  hoped  ;  Madge,  therefore, 
was  in  possession  of  the  field. 

"  John,"  she  said,  a  moment  later,  "  I  met  the  '  un 
earned  increment '  yesterday  afternoon." 

"  The  what  ? "  asked  John,  glancing  quickly  at  his 
sister,  meantime  harpooning  another  strawberry  of 
goodly  proportions  and  contemplating  it  with  much 
satisfaction. 

"  The  '  unearned  increment,'  the  monopoly  man, 
the  champion  of  the  downtrodden." 


A   TORTOISE   AND   HIS   SHELL.  109 

"  You  are  beyond  me,  Madge,"  responded  John ; 
"it  may  be  the  hot  weather,  or  intellectual  feeble 
ness,  or  a  mind  unaccustomed  to  your  dizzy  heights, 
but  so  far  I  cannot  quite  grasp  your  meaning." 

"  Have  you  already  forgotten  the  '  evasion  of  re 
sponsibility,'  the  '  trampled  sacred  rights,'  the — 

"  O,  you  mean  Yaughen  !  "  laughed  John.  "  You 
remember  him  ? "  turning  to  Dr.  Disney — "  a  college 
friend  of  mine,  who  spent  part  of  the  vacation  last 
year  with  us  at  Newport.  Ah,  Madge !  and  is  this 
how  you  repay  that  earnest  and  devoted  youth  for 
his  efforts  to  reach  your  misguided  and  untutored 
mind  ? " 

"  I  was  on  Broadway  yesterday  afternoon,  at  Lin- 
sey  &  Woolsey's,  doing  some  shopping,  and  on  com 
ing  out  of  the  store,  at  the  very  door  almost,  there 
was  the  *  unearned  increment.' " 

"  He  saw  you  ? " 

"  Certainly  he  saw  me,  and  we  chatted  for  quite  a 
few  minutes." 

"  Well !  I  wonder  what  he  is  doing  in  New  York 
at  this  time  ?  I  understood  that  he  would  remain  in 
Eastwich  at  least  through  the  vacation." 

"  Yes,  that  was  his  intention,  for  he  spoke  of  it 
yesterday,  but  it  seems  his  uncle  wrote  for  him  to 
come  on  at  once,  as  he  had  found  a  business  opening 
for  him,"  Madge  replied,  with  just  the  faintest  tinge 
of  satisfaction  in  the  consciousness  of  knowing  some 
thing  which  John  might  fairly  be  expected  to  know, 
but  for  some  reason  didn't. 

"  I  wasn't  aware  that  he  had  an  uncle  in  the  city," 
John  rather  sadly  admitted.  "  Yaughen  never  said 


110  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

anything  about  his  people,  lie  rarely  even  spoke  of 
his  mother,  and,  of  course,  I  didn't  ask  him." 

"You  dear  innocent!  Only  think  of  your  being 
all  those  years  with  the  '  unearned  increment '  with 
out  knowing  that  he  not  only  had  relatives  in  New 
York,  but  that  his  mother's  brother  was  Mark 
Brompton." 

"Mark  Brompton!  Our  Mark  Brompton?"  Dr. 
Disney  said,  quite  interestedly. 

"  Yes,  our  Mark  Brompton,  and  the  '  unearned 
increment'  is  the  nephew  of  the  stately  Mrs.  Bromp 
ton,  and  cousin  of  her  almost  equally  stately  daugh 
ters,"  Madge  returned,  complacently  sipping  her  iced 
tea,  now  that  she  had  contributed  so  largely  to  the 
general  information. 

"  What  is  the  business  opening  you  referred  to  ? 
Did  Vaughen  say  what  it  was  ? "  John  asked. 

"  He  said  he  wras  with  Keen  &  Sharp,  brokers  or 
bankers,  or  something  else  I  don't  remember,  away 
downtown." 

"  With  Keen  &  Sharp? "  Dr.  Disney  repeated,  arid 
with  an  anxious  tone. 

"  Yes ;  do  you  know  them  ? "  asked  Madge,  who 
could  not  quite  understand  the  anxiety  in  her  father's 
voice. 

"Slightly,"  said  Dr.  Disney,  but,  evidently  de 
sirous  that  the  conversation  should  take  another  turn, 
said: 

"John,  your  friend  Vaughen  seems  to  have  got 
the  start  of  you  in  this  matter  of  'earning  your 
bread,'  as  you  sometimes  say." 

"  Very  true,  sir,  but  I  think  there  was  more  of  an 


A  TORTOISE  AND    HIS  SHELL.  Ill 

immediate  necessity  in  his  case  than  mine.  Though 
I  never  asked  him  concerning  personal  matters,  still 
I  knew  he  was  anxious  to  get  started  as  soon  as  pos 
sible." 

"  Yet  there  is  a  decided  necessity  in  your  case," 
answered  the  doctor,  who  was  more  disturbed  than 
he  cared  to  say  over  John's  hesitation  to  enter  the 
medical  profession.  "  If  one  means  to  do  anything 
with  himself,  he  must  begin  early.  The  man  who  has 
not  started  on  the  ladder  when  he  is  twenty-five  or 
six  years  of  age  stands  a  poor  chance  of  doing  much 
climbing." 

"  Something  depends  on  the  ladder,"  said  John. 

"No,  the  ladder  is  much  the  same,  whatever  the 
building  may  be." 

"But  suppose  one  has  no  wish  to  climb.  Besides, 
there  are  far  more  on  ladders  now  than  will  ever 
reach  the  top.  Better  for  a  man  to  be  on  the  ground, 
where  the  walking  is  good,  than  on  a  ladder  just 
high  enough  to  get  an  ugly  fall,  but  not  able  to  reach 
the  top." 

"  The  question  is,  shall  a  man's  life  be  a  ladder 
upon  which  he  may  ascend,  or  mere  flooring  for  other 
men  to  walk  over  ? "  interposed  Madge,  nor  without 
intent,  as  she  had  a  vivid  remembrance  of  her  con 
versation  with  John  when  this  very  matter  was  dis 
cussed. 

"And  yet  the  flooring  of  this  house  is  fully  as  im 
portant  as  its  roof.  A  house  without  floors  would  be 
more  picturesque  than  useful,"  John  said,  also  re 
membering  the  conversation  which  Madge  undoubt 
edly  had  in  her  mind. 


112  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"  Yes,  but  coarse,  common  timbers  will  answer  for 
the  flooring.  Flooring  can  be  carpeted,  rugged, 
matted ;  it  can  be  covered  np  in  a  dozen  ways, 
whereas  the  roof  occupies  the  place  of  honor  'twixt 
earth  and  sky,  able  to  throw  back  the  sun,  keep  out 
the  rain,  bear  np  under  the  snow,  and,  therefore,  is 
far  more  valuable  and  useful,"  was  the  quick  reply  of 
Madge,  for  she  was  fully  the  equal  of  her  keen,  ready- 
witted  brother. 

"Roof  vs.  Flooring,"  and  John  laughed  as  he 
spoke ;  "  Miss  Disney  counsel  for  the  plaintiff." 

"  But  in  this  instance  don't  adopt  the  usual  course, 
which  is,  when  you  have  no  case,  abuse  the  plaintiff's 
attorney." 

"  Frightened  already.  A  poor  lawyer  you  would 
make.  Considering  your  high  lineage,"  turning  to 
his  father  and  bowing  with  an  air  of  profound  def 
erence,  "  and  also  the  high  character  of  your  associ 
ations,"  gently  patting  his  own  breast,  "  I  looked  for 
better  things  from  you." 

"  Nevertheless,"  said  Dr.  Disney,  falling  into  the 
humor  of  the  situation,  "  as  the  judge  in  this  case, 
which  I  need  hardly  say  is  one  of  the  most  impor 
tant  ever  brought  before  this  court,  I  must  give  judg 
ment  for  the  plaintiff." 

"Your  honor  will  be  good  enough  to  note  an  ap 
peal,"  came  from  John  with  such  forensic  voice  and 
attitude  as  to  break  down  all  court  solemnities  and 
fill  the  breakfast  room  with  hearty  laughter. 

"  A  telegram,  sir,"  said  the  neat  waitress,  a  maiden 
of  African  descent,  who  came  in  with  the  familiar 
yellow  envelope.  The  doctor  opened  it  and  read  : 


A  TORTOISE   AND   HIS  SHELL.  113 

"  My  dear  father  died  very  suddenly  this  morning. 
Will  expect  you  all  to-morrow. 

"  CAROLINE  DISNEY." 

"  O,  my  poor  mamma,"  burst  out  Madge,  the  tears 
rushing  to  her  eyes. 

"  And  from  her  letter  received  yesterday  morning 
we  thought  he  was  getting  better,"  Dr.  Disney  said, 
as  he  looked  at  the  telegram  which  he  still  held  in 
his  hand. 

Mrs.  Disney's  father,  not  a  bad  sort  of  a  man, 
by  any  means,  lived  much  as  a  tortoise  lives — a 
slow,  heavy,  ponderous  life,  with  very  little  of  the 
man  himself,  almost  everything  going  to  shell.  In 
his  case  it  was  not  the  inward  man  which  was  re 
newed  day  by  day,  but  the  outward  man,  for  the  in 
ward  man  kept  on  shrinking  and  shriveling,  so  that 
when  he  came  to  die  there  was  hardly  enough  for  a 
proper  funeral.  But  the  seventy  odd  years  which  he 
had  spent  upon  his  shell  had  not  been  in  vain,  for 
there  were  railroad  bonds,  bank  stock,  first  mort 
gages,  several  pieces  of  city  property,  together  with 
substantial  interests  in  two  or  three  manufacturing 
concerns. 

Mr.  Nathan  Haddon  was  not  fitted  by  genius  and 
daring  to  enter  upon  such  enterprises  as  Mark 
Brompton  ;  neither  had  he  the  skill  nor  ability  of 
Philip  Arlington  ;  hence  his  "  scales  "  were  not  the 
result  of  business  energy  or  commercial  life.  But 
he  could  live  as  the  tortoise — close  to  the  earth  and 
turning  everything  into  shell.  Hence  he  wore  last 
year's  coat  and  last  year's  hat,  a  rule  which  was  en 
forced  upon  every  member  of  his  household.  His 


114  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 

lasted  him  more  than  one  year,  or  even  two,  nor 
could  he  see  any  reason  why  it  should  not  be  the 
same  with  his  entire  family.  His  table  and  general 
living  arrangements  came  under  this  same  order; 
hence  the  scales  steadily  grew,  so  that  by  the  time  he 
was  fifty  years  of  age  his  shell  was  well  developed 
and  his  rank  among  the  tortoises  was  understood. 
That  one  son  went  to  the  dogs  completely ;  that  a 
daughter  ran  away  from  home  and  made  a  most  ill- 
starred  marriage  ;  that  his  poor  \vifegave  up  in  utter 
despair  ;  that  his  neighbors  considered  him  only  a 
miserly  skinflint — in  no  way  affected  his  course;  he 
just  went  on,  adding  yearly  to  the  substance  and 
weight  of  his  shell. 

After  his  death  the  several  scales  of  his  shell  were 
divided,  Madge  and  John  receiving  their  due  propor 
tion,  but  for  some  reason  Mrs.  Disney's  interest  in 
the  scales  which  fell  to  her  was  restricted  to  their  in 
come.  The  tortoise  probably  had  its  own  reasons  for 
this.  Dr.  Disney  was  remembered  only  in  an  inci 
dental  way,  which  in  a  "  last  will  and  testament"  is 
usually  most  aggravating.  Of  course  there  were 
the  usual  disappointments,  heartburnings,  jealousies, 
bickerings,  for  no  matter  how  large  the  tortoise  shell 
may  be,  or  how  carefully  proportioned  its  scales, 
some  get  too  much,  some  get  too  little,  while  some 
get  nothing  at  all.  Those  of  this  last  class  seldom 
indulge  in  expensive  mourning.  If  the  tortoises 
have  any  place  of  meeting  in  "  the  great  beyond," 
and  if  they  have  any  knowledge  of  the  squabblings 
over  their  shells,  what  interesting  and  varied  subjects 
of  conversation  they  must  have  ! 


A   TORTOISE   AND    HIS   SHELL.  115 

Under  these  new  conditions  tlie  Disney  family 
could  not  spend  the  usual  summer  season  at  New 
port,  for  Newport  is  no  place  for  garments  of  woe. 
Besides,  Mrs.  Disney,  though  she  was  fully  aware  of 
the  narrowness  and  sordidness  of  her  father's  life, 
mourned  for  him  most  sincerely,  for  his  going  left 
her  the  last  one  of  the  family.  His  will  also  gave 
her  some  unpleasantness,  not  because  of  any  failure 
to  provide  for  her,  but  it  recalled  certain  suspicions 
which  her  father  had  entertained  regarding  her  hus 
band. 

It  was  decided,  therefore,  to  break  away  from  all 
associations  and  spend  the  vacation  at  Martha's  Vine 
yard  or  Nantncket,  places  which  would  at  least  have 
the  charm  of  novelty,  and  where  they  would  escape 
the  formal,  heartless  condolence  with  which  society 
afflicts  the  afflicted. 


116  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XY. 

The  Steamer  and  the  Barge. 

DR.  DISNEY'S  horses,  which  were  treated  witli 
marked  consideration  by  the  entire  household, 
most  assuredly  resented  the  insult  which  was 
put  upon  them  in  having  to  take  the  family  carriage 
to  the  Fall  River  steamer.  Every  attempt  at  an 
honorable  compromise  had  been  made — the  trunks 
and  general  baggage  sent  by  express,  the  servants 
taken  to  the  pier  in  a  hack,  as  far  as  possible  all  sign 
of  vacation  travel  was  removed,  but  all  in  vain,  and 
the  terrible  strain  upon  their  injured  feelings  evi 
denced  itself  in  almost  every  movement. 

As  for  the  coachman,  words  cannot  describe  his 
sense  of  deep,  unpardonable  wrong.  Up  to  this  hour 
he  had  gloried  in  his  high  office,  sharing  most  gen 
erously  in  the  dignity  of  the  fortunate  man  whom  he 
favored  with  his  service.  He  was  therefore  shocked 
beyond  measure  at  the  suggestion  of  going  down  on 
the  North  River  pier  and  taking  his  place  in  a  line 
with  common  hacks  and  express  wagons.  Nothing 
but  the  tearful  remonstrance  of  a  pretty  housemaid, 
who  lived  on  the  same  street  just  two  doors  below, 
prevented  him  from  laying  down  his  whip  and  quit 
ting  the  household  of  which  he  was  such  a  distin 
guished  member. 

The  horses  behaved  fairly  well  on  Madison  Avenue, 
even  though  they  were  going  downtown — for  there 


THE   STEAMER   AND   THE   BARGE.  117 

are  certain  sections  of  the  city  below  a  given  line 
which  are  still  habitable  to  families  of  the  Disney 
class.  With  the  exception,  therefore,  of  a  high-bred 
contempt,  which  in  justice  to  themselves  they  could 
not  but  manifest,  the  horses  were  passively  decorous. 
But  when  they  were  taken  from  Madison  Avenue, 
compelled  to  go  down  Broadway  as  far  as  Canal 
Street,  they  became  furious,  and  once  or  twice  were 
on  the  point  of  bolting.  And  yet  what  they  felt  was 
not  as  a  dewdrop  to  the  sea  in  comparison  with  the 
shame  of  the  august  Michael  when  a  cable  car  hire 
ling  had  the  audacity  to  stamp  his  bell  right  behind 
him ;  nor  was  the  base  griprnan  content  with  even 
this,  but  actually  called  out,  "  Hey  !  Get  out  of  the 
way  ! "  Could  Michael's  feelings  have  just  then  em 
bodied  themselves  that  gripman  would  soon  have 
ceased  to  cumber  the  earth  with  his  vile  presence. 
But,  with  a  superb  self-mastery,  Michael  held  on  his 
way  without  so  much  as  turning  his  head  or  seeming 
to  hear  the  repeated  shouts  from  behind.  At  length 
it  suited  his  convenience  to  drive  a  little  nearer  to  the 
sidewalk,  which  enabled  the  cable  car  to  pass ;  but 
the  magnificent  contempt  with  which  he  met  the 
threatening  looks  of  the  irate  gripman  was  coachman 
art  in  its  noblest  altitude. 

"Warren  Street  at  length  was  reached,  but  the  ap 
proach  to  the  pier  was  a  huddled,  crowded  mass  of 
all  kinds  of  vehicles — hacks,  wagons,  trucks,  drays — 
some  on  their  way  from  the  ferries,  others  trying  to 
reach  the  ferries,  each  one  in  the  way  of  some  other 
one,  so  that  the  street  was  hopelessly  blocked.  But 
whatever  Michael  may  have  felt  he  allowed  no  sign 


118  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

to  escape  him,  maintaining  his  calm  to  the  end. 
Everything,  however,  comes  to  the  man  who  waits — 
hence  in  due  season  the  carriage  drew  up  within  a 
few  feet  of  the  gangway  of  the  Pilgrim,  the  steamer 
which  was  to  sail  that  evening. 

A  very  winsome  and  attractive  picture  Madge 
made  as  she  sat  on  the  upper  deck  with  John,  watch 
ing  the  hat-raising,  handkerchief-waving,  tear-shed 
ding  crowd  on  the  pier,  as  the  big  ship  moved  out 
from  the  wharf  on  its  nightly  beat  through  the 
familiar  waters.  New  Yorkers  are  always  interested 
in  the  coming  and  going  of  the  Sound  steamers.  No 
other  such  fleet  is  anywhere  in  the  world.  And 
though  of  immense  size,  how  easily  and  gracefully 
these  steamers  make  their  way  !  The  swing  around 
the  Battery,  where  that  wonderful  curve  is  made — 
and  that  too  amid  puffing  tugs  and  crowded  ferry 
boats;  the  passage  under  the  Brooklyn  Bridge,  with 
the  trains  running  overhead,  and  multitudes  of  peo 
ple  on  their  way  home  from  one  city  to  the  other ; 
the  sail  up  the  East  River,  with  the  metropolis  of  the 
nation  on  either  side — the  towers  and  steeples,  and 
buildings  over  twenty  stories  high,  standing  out  in 
the  light — these,  though  familiar  to  the  average 
Gothamite,  never  lose  their  freshness  and  charm. 

It  was  a  warm  afternoon,  warm  even  for  New 
York,  and  the  breeze  blowing  along  the  ship's  decks 
was  cool  and  refreshing.  Madge  and  John  were 
seated  on  the  side  facing  New  York,  both  of  them 
deeply  interested  in  watching  the  people  who  crowded 
the  piers — many  of  the  children  waving  their  hats  or 
handkerchiefs  as  the  big  steamer  went  by. 


THE   STEAMER  AND   THE   BARGE.  119 

Madge  was  very  quiet,  and  at  times  a  sad,  pained 
expression  passed  over  her  sensitive  face.  She  was 
thinking  of  the  people  on  the  piers — thinking  of 
them  very  earnestly.  She  remembered  some  of  the 
things  which  Hugh  Dim  bar  had  said ;  for  he  had 
called  several  times,  and  each  time  had  spoken  of 
these  same  people.  Her  sense  of  obligation  was  be 
ginning  to  deepen.  It  began  to  dawn  upon  her  that 
there  were  claims  which  she  had  steadily  ignored. 
This  going  away  seemed  selfish — like  people  fleeing 
from  a  stricken  city,  leaving  the  sick  to  care  for 
themselves  or  die  alone.  Here  was  she  going  out 
upon  a  several  weeks'  vacation,  and  yet  had  made 
no  provision  whatever  for  those  who  were  left  be 
hind. 

"  Madge,"  said  John,  speaking  in  a  low  tone,  for 
the  deck  where  they  sat  was  crowded,  and  he  de 
tested  loud  talking,  anyway,  "  I  think  if  my  lot  had 
been  cast  with  that  crowd  over  there,"  pointing  to 
the  piers,  "  I  would  have  been  a  rank  anarchist." 

"  Not  an  anarchist,  John  ? "  answered  Madge,  whose 
ideas  of  an  anarchist  involved  dynamite,  arson,  mur 
der,  and  almost  everything  that  was  horrible. 

"  Yes,  an  anarchist.  Just  look  on  that  pier.  Take 
these  opera  glasses.  See  those  scores  and  hundreds 
of  women  and  children  !  Can  you  see  the  faces  of 
the  children  ?  See  the  poor  little  babies  fairly  gasp 
ing  in  their  mothers'  arms.  Now,  this  breath  of  air 
is  about  the  only  comfort  that  most  of  these  people 
have  all  through  the  burning  heat.  I  have  been  over 
here  with  Dunbar.  Some  of  the  tenements  are  hot 
ter  than  an  oven.  The  days  are  fearful — the  nights 


120  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

are  intolerable.  No  wonder  so  many  of  the  little 
ones  sicken  and  die." 

Madge  held  the  opera  glasses  to  her  eyes  all  the 
time  John  was  speaking,  but  there  were  moments 
when  she  did  not  see  much,  for  a  tear  would  come 
now  and  then.  Somehow  these  things  had  never 
impressed  her  as  they  did  to-day.  Formerly  she  had 
either  listened  to  the  ship's  band  or  promenaded 
along  the  deck,  never  giving  a  thought  to  the  people 
on  the  piers  except  to  be  amused  somewhat.  Now 
she  was  deeply  moved  by  what  she  saw,  for  there  was 
a  tragic  side  to  it  which  she  could  not  but  feel. 

"  I  tell  you,  Madge,"  John  went  on,  "  though  some 
of  our  set  think  Dunbar  a  mere  enthusiast,  1  feel  like 
going  in  for  just  that  sort  of  thing." 

This,  however,  was  more  than  Madge  was  quite  pre 
pared  for.  She  had  got  as  far  as  a  feeling  of  sympa 
thy — a  proper  womanly  sentiment — but  she  was  not 
willing  to  embody  that  sympathy  in  actual,  definite 
service ;  another  proof  that  Madge  was  human,  for 
most  of  us  have  any  quantity  of  sympathy.  We  have 
sentiment  in  prodigious  quantities;  at  times  our  emo 
tions  are  almost  boundless,  but  they  are  mostly  of  the 
priest  and  Levite  order,  nor  do  they  materially  help 
the  poor  fellow  who  is  in  trouble  by  the  roadside. 

By  this  time  the  Pilgrim  was  nearing  the  islands 
which  the  city  uses  for  its  criminal  and  insane  poor. 
Upon  these  islands  the  Department  of  Correction  has 
erected  several  handsome  buildings,  some  of  them  of 
impressive  architecture,  while  the  spacious  grounds, 
most  carefully  kept,  add  greatly  to  the  effect. 

"  Look  on  this  picture  and  then  on  that,"  said  John, 


THE  STEAMER  AND  THE   BARGE.  121 

glancing  first  to  one  side  of  the  river  and  then  to  the 
other.  "  See  that  honest  man  over  there,  trying  as 
best  he  can  to  get  a  breath  of  air.  He  comes  down 
to  the  river  in  the  evening  after  working  all  day  in 
the  hot  shop,  hoping  for  a  chance  to  cool  off  on  some 
pier  or  wharf,  and  is  thankful  if  the  police  do  not 
drive  him  away.  Then  see  that  miserable  drunkard 
over  there  on  that  beautiful  island,  living  in  a  home 
a  thousand  times  healthier  and  sweeter  than  the  man 
who  is  trying  to  be  honest  and  sober." 

"  But  what  would  you  do  with  these  weak  and  un 
fortunate  classes  ? "  was  Madge's  very  natural  ques 
tion. 

"  One  thing  I  would  not  do,"  John  quickly  an 
swered,  "  I  would  not  house  them  on  the  most  beau 
tiful  islands  we  have — islands  which  have  a  money 
value  higher  than  any  other  property  on  this  conti 
nent.  It  is  both  a  shame  and  an  outrage  to  have 
these  islands  used  as  they  are  now.  They  ought  to 
be  opened  for  parks,  for  pleasure  grounds,  for  public 
resorts,  for  breathing  places,  to  which  the  people 
should  have  free  access." 

"  But  could  that  be  done  ? " 

"Certainly,  and  it  should  be  done  soon.  These 
islands  belong  to  the  people,  and  ought  not  to  be 
desecrated  as  they  are  now." 

"But  surely  charity  is  not  a  desecration?" 

"  This  is  not  charity ;  this  is  simply  putting  a  pre 
mium  upon  drunkenness,  dishonesty,  brutality,  and 
the  common  vices  of  all  great  cities." 

"  In  what  way  ? " 

"  In  this  way  :  a  man  is  guilty  of  any  one  of  the 


122  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

crimes  named.  He  is  sent  over  here,  well  fed,  well 
housed,  with  sea  water  all  around  him — in  short, 
spending  the  summer  at  a  seaside  resort,  while  the 
wife  whom  he  has  brutally  beaten  or  the  children 
whose  bread  he  has  stolen  are  sweltering  in  some 
stifling  tenement.  Hundreds  of  our  common,  low 
drunkards  are  having  a  glorious  summer  at  the  ex 
pense  of  honest,  industrious  people." 

The  breeze  was  now  freshening,  for  the  Pilgrim 
was  rapidly  reaching  the  Sound,  with  its  broad  sweep 
of  waters,  broken  on  the  Long  Island  side  with  all 
manner  of  little  harbors  and  bays ;  while  on  the  New 
York  side  there  were  numberless  inlets  for  yachts 
and  small  craft  of  all  kinds. 

"  How  beautiful  it  is ! "  said  Madge.  "  See  how  tlie 
hills  over  there  stand  out ;  and  the  trees,  how  fresh 
and  green  they  are  ! " 

Just  then  some  children  on  the  forward  end  of  the 
promenade  deck  were  observed  waving  handker 
chiefs,  and  generally  giving  vent  to  their  excitement. 
Many  of  the  older  passengers  shared  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  youngsters,  so  that  the  scene  was  quite  hila 
rious.  On  looking  for  the  cause  of  these  demonstra 
tions,  a  great  barge  was  seen  in  tow  of  a  good-sized 
tug,  the  barge  crowded  with  women  and  children 
mostly,  on  their  way  home  from  a  day's  excursion. 
The  pilot  on  the  Pilgrim  saluted  the  excursionists 
with  sundry  blowings  of  the  fog  horn,  to  which  the 
tug  responded  in  its  very  shrill  but  appreciative  way. 
As  the  two  strangely  dissimilar  craft  swept,  past  each 
other  the  bnrge  sent  out  a  volume  of  cheers  and 
shouts,  which  the  passengers  of  the  Pilgrim  returned 


THE   STEAMER  AND   THE   BARGE.  123 

with  interest,  John  joining  in  with  one  or  two  notes 
of  his  favorite  college  yell — a  yell  which,  when  prop 
erly  given,  frightens  even  a  fog  horn,  and  makes  an 
Indian  war  whoop  only  a  lover's  whisper. 

"  That  is  one  of  the  noblest  charities  in  New  York," 
said  a  passenger  to  his  friend,  as  they  stood  watching 
the  barge,  which  already  was  considerably  astern. 

"  Who  lias  charge  of  these  excursions  ?  "  said  the 
other,  moving  over  to  the  ship's  side,  but  not  so  far 
as  to  prevent  Madge  and  John  from  hearing  the 
conversation. 

"  Some  church  usually." 

"  Doesn't  the  city  do  something  ? " 

"O,  dear,  no!  The  city  can  get  up  a  junket  for 
some  alderman  or  other  distinguished  foreigner  ;  pol 
iticians  arrange  such  things  for  their  workers  and 
friends,  but  these,"  pointing  to  the  barge,  which  was 
yet  in  easy  sight,  "  are  mostly  the  work  of  some 
church." 

"  Of  course  the  rich  people  pay  the  bills  ? " 

"  Not  at  all.  Our  rich  people  go  to  Europe  in  the 
spring,  to  Newport  in  the  early  summer,  to  Saratoga 
later  in  the  season,  and  to  the  mountains  in  the  fall. 
Of  course  there  are  exceptions,  for  some  people  have 
at  least  a  measure  of  conscience,  but  as  a  whole  the 
rich  people  of  New  York  do  nothing  for  the  sum 
mer  of  the  poor." 

"But  the  newspapers  are  interested,  and  they  en 
list  outside  help  ? " 

"  Yes,  the  newspapers  are  interested,  and  only  for 
them  poor  people  would  have  an  awful  time  in  New 
York.  But  take  the  list  of  subscribers  to  the  Fresh- 
9 


124  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 

Air  Fund,  the  Free-Ice  Fund,  the  People's  Excur 
sion  Fund,  any  of  the  Funds  brought  into  promi 
nence  by  the  newspapers,  and  what  will  you  find  ? 
Large  subscriptions  from  rich  men  and  women  ?  No, 
indeed — the  money  is  given  mostly  by  poor  people, 
the  rich  do  almost  nothing." 

"  I  wonder  why  ? " 

"  Simply  because  they  don't  know  of  the  terrible 
conditions  under  which  so  many  live.  How  could 
they  ?  I  didn't  know  about  these  things  myself  un 
til  recently.  You  know  that  my  business  as  a  con 
tractor  brings  me  into  touch  with  all  sorts  of  people, 
and  the  hard,  terrible  struggle  which  many  have  to 
get  even  enough  to  eat  is  simply  awful." 

By  this  time  the  barge  had  disappeared,  and  the 
Pilgrim  was  moving  through  the  waters  like  a  huge 
swan.  The  sun,  released  from  the  smoke  and  dust 
of  the  great  city  was  purpling  the  Connecticut  hills, 
while  the  sky — a  vast,  measureless  dome,  emptied  of 
cloud  and  mist — arched  over  hill  and  sea  in  wondrous 
beauty.  The  night  promised  to  be  one  of  rare  splen 
dor,  when  no  storm  would  disturb  the  waters  or  fog 
hide  the  glory  of  the  stars. 

"Well!  this  is  indeed  a  pleasure,"  broke  from 
Hugh  Dunbar,  "  and  all  the  more  because  it  was  so 
unexpected." 

"  A  pleasure  which  we  fully  appreciate,"  John  an 
swered,  heartily.  Madge  said  nothing,  but  there  was 
something  in  her  greeting  which  Mr.  Dnnbar  seemed 
to  interpret  satisfactorily,  for  he  brought  over  a 
steamer  camp  chair  and  sat  down  quite  contentedly. 

"  On  my  way  to  this  part  of  the  boat,"  Mr.  Dun- 


THE   STEAMER  AND   THE    BARGE.  125 

bar  said,  "I  saw  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Disney  at  their  state 
room  door,  and  the  doctor  desired  me,  if  I  saw  you, 
to  be  the  bearer  of  a  most  important  communica 
tion." 

"  Which  is  that  it  is  time  for  dinner,"  said  John. 

"  Another  proof  of  your  wonderful  wisdom,  my 
esteemed  friend.  Your  college  training  has  not  been 
all  in  vain." 

'"The  knell  invites,'"  John  replied,  rising  as  he 
spoke.  "  Come,  my  venerable  sister.  Dunbar,  as  a 
distinguished  member  of  the  clergy,  please  take  your 
place  in  the  procession." 


126  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

A  Social  Science  Congress. 

I EING  experienced  travelers,  and  knowing  just 
how  certain  creature  comforts  can  be  most 
easily  obtained,  our  friends  soon  gathered  in 
the  dining  room,  where  a  table  had  been  reserved 
for  them.  How  many  have  wearily  stood  on  the 
stairway,  leading  down  to  this  same  dining  room, 
waiting  for  the  distinguished  son  of  Ham  to  call  out 
the  number  which  would  give  them  a  place !  The 
poet  surely  did  not  have  these  stairs  in  his  thought 
when  he  wrote  that  time  was  short  and  life  was 
fleeting.  A  more  sad  or  solemn  company  could 
not  be  found  anywhere  than  that  on  these  stairs, 
especially  during  the  rush  of  the  summer  travel. 
Every  step  is  the  scene  of  an  unwritten  tragedy ; 
plaints,  far  more  dolorous  than  Job  ever  dreamed 
of,  are  in  the  very  nails  and  brass  mountings.  The 
most  wearisome  moments  that  human  endurance  is 
capable  of  have  been  realized  on  these  stairs,  and  the 
feelings  with  which  we  have  seen  people,  like  this 
Disney  party,  go  calmly  down  without  waiting  to  be 
called  have  made  us  almost  long  for  another  revolution. 
"And  now,"  said  John,  during  one  of  those  en 
forced  pauses  which  are  such  a  marked  feature  of 
public  dining  rooms,  "tell  us  something  of  this 
place  to  which  we  are  all  hastening,  for  I  under 
stand  that  you  also  are  going  to  Martha's  Vineyard." 


A   SOCIAL   SCIENCE    CONGRESS.  127 

John  looked  at  Dunbar  as  lie  spoke,  who  was  seated 
very  comfortably  at  Mrs.  Disney's  immediate  right, 
and  just  opposite  Madge. 

"  Well,  the  place  itself  came  into  being  at  the  time 
of  primeval  man,  and  remains  about  as  when  created; 
nor  has  there  been  much  change  in  the  man." 

"  Then  we  are  returning  to  primitive  conditions," 
said  John.  "  Some  Boston  man  has  declared  that 
the  original  Eden  was  at  the  North  Pole.  That  I 
never  believed,  just  because  so  many  expeditions 
have  been  fitted  out  and  sent  to  find  it." 

"If  you  have  imagination  sufficient  to  make 
scrub  oaks  into  apple  trees  and  Gay  Head  Indians 
into  Adam  and  Eve,  you  may  have  all  of  the '  primitive 
conditions '  you  desire.  But  I  regret  to  say  that  the 
man  of  trolleys  and  electric  lights  has  descended  up 
on  Martha's  Yineyard  bringing  his  wires  with  him." 

"  That  I  regret  to  hear,"  said  Madge. 

"  Still,  let  me  assure  you,  Miss  Disney,  that  you 
can  find  miles,  sections,  regions,  where  the  only 
traces  of  modern  civilization  are  stakes,  which  must 
have  been  driven  by  Abraham  as  tent  posts  when 
he  was  a  stranger  and  pilgrim  on  the  earth." 

"I  have  heard  something  of  this,"  Dr.  Disney 
remarked,  "  but  I  understood  that  these  stakes  were 
used  by  the  Norsemen  to  stay  their  fishing  nets, 
which  was  half  a  millennium  before  we  discovered 
Columbus." 

"  A  few  hundred  years,  more  or  less,  are  a  small 
matter  in  the  presence  of  these  mysterious  stakes. 
Some  day  when  you  are  in  the  woods  listening  to  the 
song  of  the  birds,  hearing  in  the  distance  the  mur- 


128  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

mur  of  the  sc:i,  with  the  sweet  winds  tempered  by 
the  trees  blowing  gently  upon  you,  wondering  if, 
after  all,  this  is  not  the  original  paradise,  all  at  once 
you  will  see  one  of  these  stakes,  and  in  wondering 
'how  it  ever  came  to  be  there  you  will  have  much 
food  for  reflection." 

The  waiter  having  emerged  from  retirement  with 

O  CD 

a  tray  of  ample  proportions,  upon  which  platters 
and  dishes  were  carefully  arranged,  conversation  was 
suspended  for  the  time  being.  The  process  of  think 
ing,  however,  went  on. 

John's  thoughts : 

"  Dunbar  talks  well ;  talks  much  better  than  he 
preaches.  Wonder  why  clergymen  are  so  dull  in 
the  pulpit.  What  stupid  things  sermons  are  ! " 

Mrs.  Disney's  thoughts : 

"  A  pleasant,  well-spoken  young  man,  but  rather 
light  and  frivolous  for  a  clergyman.  I  wonder  why 
clergymen  cannot  be  as  serious  in  their  conversation 
as  when  they  are  in  the  pulpit." 

Dr.  Disney's  thoughts : 

"Bright  fellow.  He  may  have  all  sorts  of  notions, 
but  he  is  shrewd  withal.  I  wonder  why  clergymen, 
as  a  rnle,  have  so  little  common  sense." 

Madge's  thoughts — 

Some  thoughts  there  are  which,  like  the  burning 
bush  in  the  desert,  are  not  to  be  approached  without 
reverence.  At  this  particular  time  Madge  was  doing 
some  very  serious  thinking,  nor  was  it  concerning 
clergymen  or  sermons;  it  related  to  Dunbar  him 
self.  We  will  not,  therefore,  intrude. 

"  What  a  glorious  night ! "   said  John,  as  he  and 


A  SOCIAL   SCIENCE   CONGRESS.  129 

Madge  took,  on  the  promenade  deck,  "an  after- 
dinner  spin,"  to  use  an  ocean  steamer  phrase. 

There  was  nothing  of  cloud  or  fog.  The  sky  was 
wondrouslj  clear,  such  as  it  is  sometimes  in  June, 
when  no  haze  or  shadow  rests  upon  the  deep,  infinite 
blue,  and  the  heavens  reach  back  to  distances  which 
are  eternal.  The  stars  were  coming  out,  though 
timidly,  for  the  moon  was  just  attaining  its  zenith  ; 
and  in  that  full,  rich  light  the  brightest  stars  almost 
lose  themselves.  As  the  night  wore  on,  the  moon, 
catching  the  glories  of  a  hidden  sun,  cast  them  upon 
the  sea  in  great  sheets  of  silver,  while  the  shores  and 
distant  hills  served  as  polished  reflectors,  adding  to 
the  beauty  and  splendor  of  the  scene. 

After  the  promenade  had  disposed  of  itself,  and 
our  friends  were  seated  in  about  the  same  place  as  in 
the  early  evening,  Madge  asked  Mr.  Dunbar  how 
long  he  intended  to  remain  at  Martha's  Vineyard. 

"  I  hardly  know,"  he  answered  ;  "  a  few  days,  pos 
sibly  a  week." 

"  That  is  a  short  vacation." 

"  But  this  is  not  a  vacation." 

"  If  I  may  ask,  \v\is\t  is  it  then  ?  " 

"  I  am  going  to  attend  a  Social  Science  Congress." 

"What  is  a  Social  Science  Congress?" 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  Does  anyone  know  ?  " 

"  I  think  not." 

"  Has  it  an  object  ? " 

"  It  has." 

"  What  is  it  ? " 

"  I  don't  know," 


130  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

"  Does  anyone  know  ? " 

"  I  think  not." 

"  It  must  be  something  of  excessive  and  absorbing 
interest,"  John  remarked.  "  The  amount  of  your 
information  concerning  a  Social  Science  Congress  is 
only  equaled  by  your  facility  in  communicating 
it." 

"  Some  men  are  born  to  wisdom,  some  men  achieve 
wisdom,  while  some  men  have  wisdom  thrust  upon 
them.  In  order  that  you  may  enter  at  least  one  of 
these  classes,  I  am  going  to  insist  upon  you  attend 
ing  this  Social  Science  Congress,"  Dunbar  replied. 

"  In  that  case  I  will  look  up  the  '  forms  of  prayer 
to  be  used  at  sea,'  for  the  unfortunate  creatures  who 
compose  such  gatherings  are  usually  very  much  '  at 
sea,' "  John  piously  remarked. 

Mrs.  Disney  complained  of  the  roundabout  way 
involved  in  this  journey,  for  it  was  not  until  the 
forenoon  of  the  next  day  that  they  reached  their 
destination.  Even  Dr.  Disney  was  less  patient  than 
usual,  and  two  or  three  times,  when  the  party  had  to 
change  from  boat  to  train,  then  from  train  to  boat, 
he  said  very  plainly  that  better  arrangements  wer% 
easily  possible.  John,  however,  reminded  him  that 
railroads  and  boat  companies  were  not  intended  to 
promote  the  public  comfort,  but  were  institutions 
whose  sole  purpose  was  to  make  money. 

"  My  honored  father,  the  secret  of  all  this  consoli 
dation  business,  this  buying  up  of  rivals  and  com 
petitors,  is  simply  dividends — Dividends  with  a  big 
D — more  Dividends — larger  Dividends." 

"  But  there  is  less  expense  in  management." 


A   SOCIAL   SCIENCE   CONGRESS.  131 

"  Still  the  fares  are  not  reduced." 

"  There  is  less  waste  iii  the  number  of  trains  and 
boats  which  are  run." 

"  Consequently  less  accommodation  to  the  public." 

"  The  system  generally  is  better." 

"  The  service  generally  is  worse." 

"  My  son,  you  are  becoming  a  rank  socialist." 

"  My  father,  you  are  becoming  a  rank  capitalist." 

"  Oak  Bluffs  Landing ! "  called  out  a  voice,  in 
which  the  fog-horn  cadence  blended  with  the  sharp 
strains  of  the  piccolo,  hence  it  was  heard  from  one 
end  of  the  boat  to  the  other. 

Then  the  usual  scramble — the  gathering  up  of 
bags,  bundles,  banjoes,  bird  cages,  babies ;  the  usual 
rush  for  the  gangway,  the  people  crowding  upon  one 
another  in  the  most  foolish  way ;  the  usual  waiting 
company  on  the  wharf,  who  stand  in  lines,  compel 
ling  the  passengers  to  run  a  sort  of  Indian  gauntlet; 
the  usual  trouble  of  settling  down  into  rooms  not 
much  larger  than  a  good-sized  trunk,  and  the  usual 
lamentations  over  the  supreme  folly  of  leaving  home 
with  its  comforts  and  conveniences.  But  the  Go- 
thamite  who  fails  to  join  the  great  company  of  the 
vacationists,  cost  what  it  may  in  personal  discomfort, 
is  such  a  rarity  that  a  good,  healthy  specimen,  as  a 
"  freak,"  would  be  a  startling  attraction. 

The  Social  Science  Congress  was  a  great  success. 
Some  score  or  so,  mostly  dear  old  men  who  were 
too  feeble  for  outdoor  amusement,  attended  regu 
larly,  falling  asleep  with  commendable  promptness 
almost  as  soon  as  the  sessions  opened.  A  few  severe, 
rather  repellent-looking  females  were  also  very  con- 


132  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

stant  in  their  attendance,  coining  in  with  that  stern, 
defiant  air  which  reminds  one  of  Alexander  gazing 
angrily  around  for  more  worlds  to  dispose  of. 

One  distinguished  brother  presented  a  paper  on 
"Matter:  a  Spirit  Evolution,"  going  back  in  his  re 
searches  ten  thousand  billion  years. 

John  Disney  could  not  quite  see  the  bearing  of 
this  paper,  nor  how  it  related  to  the  questions  of  to 
day;  but  in  making  this  remark  to  Hugh  Dunbar 
he  was  unfortunate  in  raising  his  voice  just  above  a 
whisper,  whereupon  one  of  the  repellent-looking  fe 
males  gave  him  a  look,  of  which,  speaking  to  Madge, 
and  quoting  a  line  of  a  hymn,  he  said,  "  Deep  horror 
then  my  vitals  froze.5' 

Another  equally  distinguished  brother  read  an 
elaborate  treatise  on  "  The  Drainage  and  Sewerage 
of  the  Antediluvians,"  in  which  he  proved  that 
Noah's  flood  was  a  scientific  necessity,  flushing  the 
earth's  arterial  system,  which  for  centuries  had  been 
neglected. 

The  chairman  declared  that  this  was  a  most 
timely  paper,  and  would  mark  a  new  era  in  the  de 
velopment  of  the  world. 

"Timely  it  certainly  was,"  John  said,  "nearly 
ninety  minutes." 

This  time  a  female  not  quite  so  sternly  defiant  as  the 
one  who  had  favored  him  with  a  glare  turned  around, 
but  there  was  such  a  sad  look  in  John's  eye  and 
diich  a  weary,  hopeless  expression  on  his  face  that 
the  defiant  female  gave  him  a  glance  which  was  al 
most  sympathetic. 

"Capital   and    Labor  in  the  Days   of  the  Great 


A  SOCIAL  SCIENCE   CONGRESS.  133 

Rameses"  gave  a  little  man  in  spectacles  the  oppor 
tunity  of  his  life.  "  Simply  thrilling,"  John  de 
clared  when  he  got  home ;  "  wouldn't  have  missed  it 
for  anything." 

"  Tenement  Life  in  Arabia  Petraea"  was  carefully 
discussed  by  a  tall,  benevolent-looking  old  gentle 
man,  who  illustrated  his  paper  with  maps  and  charts 
of  all  conditions  and  colors. 

"  Dunbar,"  said  John,  when  the  family  had  gath 
ered  on  the  piazza  of  the  cottage  which  Dr.  Disney 
had  taken  for  the  season — a  cottage  which  stood  on  a 
little  bluff  in  full  view  of  Yineyard  Sound — -and  the 
Social  Science  Congress  \vas  being  discussed,  "  for 
now  some  years  I  have  been  your  friend.  I  have  al 
lowed  you  to  carry  my  bag,  to  pay  my  bills — in  short, 
to  make  yourself  generally  useful.  Every  honorable 
demand  of  friendship  I  have  met,  even  to  borrowing 
of  your  superfluous  lucre — loans  which  remain  stead 
fast  to  this  day.  But  rather  than  again  endure  such 
agonies  as  those  of  this  afternoon  I  would  willingly 
give  }7ou  up  to  the  enemies  of  your  country,  that  you 
might  die  an  heroic  death." 

"  You  excite  my  curiosity,"  said  Dr.  Disney ;  "  tell 
us  of  the  Congress." 

"  I  am  profoundly  thankful  that  enough  of  me  is 
left  to  excite  anything,"  John  replied,  looking  out 
dreamily  upon  the  sea,  where  the  evening  shadows 
were  now  gathering. 

"  Such  humility  in  your  case  is  so  novel  that  I  fear 
for  the  reaction,"  the  doctor  gravely  but  slyly  re 
marked. 

"  My  only  hope  of  ever  getting  back  to  myself  is 


134  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

on  the  principle  that  action  and  reaction  are  equal," 
said  John,  still  watching  the  shadows  reaching  out 
of  the  sky  like  dusky  arms,  gathering  the  tired  earth 
within  their  embrace. 

"  To  get  away  from  oneself,  far,  far  away,  is  a 
decided  improvement  in  some  cases,"  suggested 
Madge. 

"Autobiography,  my  dear  sister,  is  always  inter 
esting.  Pray  go  on." 

Madge  was  about  to  reply,  when  Mr.  Dunbar 
said : 

"  So  far  as  any  discussion  of  present-day  themes, 
the  Congress  was  an  utter  failure." 

o 

"  What  did  you  expect?  "  asked  Dr.  Disney. 

"  Some  suggestions  bearing  upon  life  in  our  great 
cities — plans  for  tenements;  hints  along  social  lines 
generally." 

"Then  you  are  dissatisfied  with  things  as  they 
now  are  ? " 

"  Most  assuredly." 

"  Upon  what  do  you  bnse  your  conclusions  ? " 

The  doctor  was  becoming  interested.  Madge  had 
been  all  along.  John  was  yet  sea  gazing,  but  listen 
ing  intently.  Mrs.  Disney  gathered  up  an  occasional 
word,  as  a  bird  does  a  crumb,  flying  off  with  it  to 
her  nest. 

"Partly  upon  general  admission;  then  upon  some 
little  reading;  but  mostly  upon  personal  investiga 
tion,"  Mr.  Dunbar  answered. 

"  Having  diagnosed  the  case,  can  you  locate  the 
trouble  ? " 

"  To  some  extent,  yes." 


A   SOCIAL   SCIENCE   CONGRESS.  135 

"  In  what  part  of  the  body  politic  do  you  find 
it?" 

"  In  the  region  of  the  heart." 

"  Then  it  is  dangerous  ? " 

"  I  think  so — very  dangerous." 

"  Have  you  thought  of  the  remedy  ?  " 

"  An  entire  readjustment  of  tilings." 

"  Is  that  possible  ?  "  asked  John. 

"  Yes,  easily  so." 

"  You  have  no  reference  to  communities  or 
brotherhoods  ?  "  was  John's  next  question. 

"  None  whatever.  Such  things  are  the  veriest 
dreams  without  the  least  shadow  of  foundation." 

"  Then  this  readjustment  does  not  relate  to  a  gen 
eral  distribution  of  property  ? "  questioned  the  doctor. 

"Not  at  all.  There  are  lines  running  through 
society  which  no  scheme  of  Utopian  communism  can 
affect.  All  movements  of  that  kind  are  not  only 
senseless,  but  dangerous,  and  should  be  dealt  with 
unsparingly." 

Upon  hearing  this,  Mrs.  Disney,  who  so  far  had 
taken  no  part  in  the  conversation,  said : 

"  Then  you  are  not  a  socialist,  Mr.  Dunbar  ?  " 

"If  I  only  knew  just  what  a  socialist  is  I  should 
be  the  proud  possessor  of  the  secret  of  this  century," 
Mr.  Dunbar  answered.  "  Perhaps  we  are  all  socialists 
without  being  aware  of  it." 

"  But  if  I  understand  .you,"  Dr.  Disney  rather 
abruptly  remarked,  "  certain  charges  are  made  by 
the  poor  of  New  York  against  the  rich,  which 
charges  you  accept  as  true." 

"  That  is  a  fair  statement  of  the  case." 


136  DWELLERS    IN  GOTHAM. 

"  Would  you  kindly  put  these  charges  in  some 
definite  form  ? "  There  was  the  faintest  suggestion 
of  acerbity  in  Dr.  Disney's  voice. 

"  Indifference,  intolerance,  neglect,"  Mr.  Dtmbar 
answered,  calmly,  but  with  evident  conviction. 

"You  mean,  then, that  New  York  does  nothing 
for  its  working  people.  I  am  connected  with  some 
of  the  hospitals  ;  I  am  a  director  in  a  half  dozen  insti 
tutions,  and  have  reason  to  know  that  our  city  is 
most  generous."  This  was  said  with  considerable 
emphasis. 

"  But,  Dr.  Disney,  this  is  not  a  question  of 
charity  or  hospital  service.  There  are  scores  of 
thousands  in  our  city  to  whom  charity  as  such  would 
be  degrading,  and  who,  fortunately,  have  no  need  of 
hospital  care,  but  who  have  claims,  nevertheless, 
which  are  completely  ignored." 

"  Kindly  be  more  explicit,"  the  doctor  said. 

"  Then  what  are  we  doing  for  the  tradesmen,  the 
mechanics,  the  great  masses  of  our  sturdy  working 
people,  who  have  really  made  the  city  ?  What  are 
we  doing  for  the  industrious,  hard-working  women, 
who  in  their  way  are  just  as  useful  as  the  men  ? 
What  are  we  doing  for  the  children  and  young 
people,  so  as  to  fit  them  for  the  duties  of  the  after 
years  ?  There  are  half  a  million  of  people  in  New 
York  to  whom  the  proper  kind  of  help  should  be 
given,  but  who  receive  no  help  whatever,  not  even 
from  those  whom  they  enrich  by  their  toil." 

"  We  give  them  parks,"  answered  John. 

"  Not  even  parks,  for  what  with  driveways,  bridle 
paths,  police  regulations,  a  profusion  of  notices  to 


A  SOCIAL  SCIENCE   CONGRESS.  137 

'  keep  off  the  grass,'  most  of  our  parks  are  not  of 
much  value  to  the  common  people." 

"Museums  and  picture  galleries,"  put  in  John, 
not,  however,  by  way  of  opposition,  for  at  heart  his 
sympathies  were  with  Dun  bar. 

"  But  how  many  of  them,  and  under  what  con 
ditions  ?  We  are  far  richer  than  Paris,  but  in  this 
regard  Paris  is  away  beyond  us.  Proportionately  we 
are  as  rich  as  London,  but  so  far  as  these  things  are 
concerned  London  is  infinitely  in  advance." 

"  Reading  rooms,  free  libraries,  halls  for  whole 
some  recreation,"  suggested  John,  who  had  now 
turned  from  watching  the  shadows  on  the  sea  to 
note  the  perplexed  look  on  the  doctor's  face. 

"  One  or  two  citizens  have  generously  made  pro 
vision  in  the  ways  you  name,"  Mr.  Dunbar  said,  ad 
dressing  himself  to  John,  "  but  these  are  only  a  drop 
in  the  bucket." 

"  Schools,"  was  John's  further  response. 

"  Not  school  accommodation  for  much  more  than 
a  good  half  of  the  children,  while  many  of  our  school 
buildings  are  most  miserable  affairs." 

"  Churches,"  was  John's  final  word. 

"No,  not  even  churches.  The  poor  people  have 
to  build  their  own  churches.  In  London  the  poor 
est  man  in  the  city  is  welcome  in  St.  Paul's  or  West 
minster  Abbey.  I  have  attended  services  in  St. 
Paul's  specially  arranged  for  workingmen,  and  have 
seen  thousands  of  them  there.  In  Paris  the  com 
monest  street  laborer  is  free  to  attend  the  Madeleine 
or  Notre  Dame.  In  Rome  the  peasant  worships 
with  the  prince  in  St.  Peter's ;  but  it  is  not  so  in 


138  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

New  York.  We  have  set  the  people  off  by  them 
selves.  Religion  has  lost  its  democracy.  One  of 
these  days — I  hope  before  it  is  too  late — we  will 
find  out  our  terrible  mistake." 

A  certain  lightening  in  the  sky  indicated  that  the 
moon  would  soon  come  up  out  of  the  sea,  where 
upon  Mr.  Dunbar  suggested  a  favorable  place  to  wit 
ness  the  moon  rise.  Neither  Mrs.  Disney  nor  the 
doctor  cared  just  then  to  leave  the  piazza,  which 
they  found  very  comfortable ;  John  pleaded  social 
science  exhaustion ;  Madge  and  Mr.  Dunbar  had, 
therefore,  the  moon-gazing  all  to  themselves.  Such, 
however,  is  the  resourcefulness  of  human  nature 
that  our  young  friends  bore  up  under  their  disap 
pointment  with  a  resignation  that  was  simply  beau* 
tiful. 


BOOK  II. -PRIDE 


10 


THE  BROMPTON  HOUSEHOLD.         141 


CHAPTER  XYII. 

The  Brompton  Household. 

yV    )f  RS.  MARK  BROMPTON  possessed  in  no 

I  y  I  ordinary  measure  the  quality  of  stateliness. 
J[  In  feature  she  was  not  beautiful,  in  disposi 
tion  she  was  not  charitable,  in  character  she  was  not 
intellectual ;  but  in  everything  she  was  stately,  and 
what  more  can  be  reasonably  expected  of  any  one 
person  ?  The  old  and  familiar  legend  of  a  certain 
nobleman  who  generously  distributed  his  wealth  be 
fore  setting  out  on  a  long  journey  recalls  the  fact 
that  to  each  servant  was  given  just  one  pound,  and 
for  that  pound  he  would  be  held  responsible.  Now, 
Mrs.  Brompton 's  pound  was  a  high  consciousness  of 
her  own  merits — a  consciousness  which  never  deserted 
her,  and  from  which  she  derived  much  personal  satis 
faction.  Hence  in  her  way  she  had  a  goodly  propor 
tion  of  inward  peace,  for  she  was  on  the  best  of  terms 
with  herself.  To  sit  down  complacently  and  smile 
in  the  face  of  a  frowning  world  is  only  possible  to 
those  who  are  in  cordial  relations  with  themselves. 
No  man  can  be  really  happy  unless  he  can  take  him 
self  by  the  hand,  give  that  hand  a  good,  hearty  grasp, 
invite  himself  to  an  easy  chair,  make  himself  perfectly 
at  home,  and  prove  to  himself  that  he  himself  is  one 
of  the  best  fellows  in  the  world.  No  woman  can  be 
at  all  happy  unless  she  can  look  gratefully  into  her 
own  eyes,  smile  sweetly  at  her  own  lips,  talk  freely 


142  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

to  her  own  self,  and  prove  to  herself  that  she  herself 
is  one  of  the  nicest  women  anywhere  to  be  found. 
This  Mrs.  Broinpton  could  do,  and  do  it  with  an  ease, 
an  assurance,  a  full- rounded  completeness,  which  left 
nothing  to  be  desired. 

We  have  said  that  she  was  not  intellectual,  but 
she  was  well  gowned  ;  that  she  was  not  beautiful,  but 
she  was  rich ;  that  she  was  not  charitable,  but  she 
was  stately ;  and  when  a  woman  is  stately,  rich,  and 
well  gowned  anything  else  is  not  of  much  conse 
quence. 

Her  daughters,  Ethel  and  Janet,  in  many  particu 
lars  had  followed  her  noble  example,  accepting  this 
world  as  intended  specially  for  them,"  which  they 
were  to  use  merely  as  a  means  of  simple  enjoyment. 
Such  a  sublime  acceptance  of  "  the  earth,  the  sea,  and 
all  that  in  them  is  "  invariably  promotes  agreeable 
sensations  in  the  minds  of  the  acceptors,  while  at  the 
same  time  it  obviates  unpleasant  discussion  concern 
ing  the  imaginary  rights  of  others. 

Mrs.  Brompton  and  her  daughters  quietly  assumed 
that  this  world  was  made  for  them,  that  everything 
in  it  was  meant  to  promote  their  pleasure,  and  that 
every  other  person  in  the  world  had  no  higher  duty 
in  life  than  to  serve  them,. when  such  service  was 
necessary. 

The  Brompton  household  was  not,  therefore,  agi 
tated  over  such  problems  as  troubled  the  mind  of 
Sister  Nora  or  Hugh  Dunbar.  Why  should  it? 
Mark  Brompton  was  one  of  the  largest  taxpayers  in 
the  city.  The  man  who  pays  his  taxes  meets  the  full 
demands  of  the  law.  Out  of  those  taxes  schools  and 


THE  BROMPTON  HOUSEHOLD.        143 

pool-houses  are  maintained.  Why,  then,  be  annoyed 
with  piteous  appeals  or  stories  of  grief-stricken 
homes  ?  Such  things  were  simply  preposterous, 
containing  demands  which  were  senseless  and  absurd. 
Mrs.  Brompton  had  no  patience  with  Hugh  Dunbar. 
The  people  of  whom  he  talked  were  idle,  shiftless, 
lazy,  wasteful ;  they  spent  their  earnings  in  drink; 
anything  that  was  done  for  them  only  encouraged 
dissipation,  and  Mr.  Dunbar  was  doing  harm  instead 
of  good.  These  things  and  many  others  she  said  on 
her  return  from  Europe,  where,  with  her  daughters, 
she  had  spent  part  of  the  season  in  the  Riviera,  not 
content,  either,  with  a  hotel,  but  renting  one  of  the 
finest  villas,  and  then  afterward  with  the  American 
colony  in  Paris  living  in  the  most  elegant  way. 

Twice,  however,  it  has  been  remarked  of  her  that 
she  was  not  a  charitable  woman. 

"  Mark,"  she  said,  a  few  days  after  her  return  from 
Europe,  early  in  October,  "  as  your  nephew  intends 
remaining  in  New  York,  would  it  not  be  well  for 
him  to  make  some  arrangements  as  to  a  permanent 
home  ? " 

Mrs.  Brompton  invariably  spoke  of  Edward 
Vaughen  as  "  Mr.  Brompton's  nephew,"  which 
showed  on  her  part  a  fine  capacity  for  distinction  be 
tween  blood  and  legal  relationship.  It  is  not  given  to 
every  woman  to  have  this  nice  sense  of  discrimination. 

"  Yes  ?  "  answered  Mr.  Brompton,  though  he  con 
trived  by  means  of  the  rising  inflection  to  suggest  a 
question. 

"  It  was  all  right  when  you  were  alone  to  have 
him  with  you,  but,  of  course,  it  is  different  now." 


144  DWELLERS    IN   GOTHAM. 

"  Yes,"  Mr.  Brompton  again  answered,  but  this 
time  there  was  no  rising  inflection,  which  would  in 
dicate  that  lie  agreed  with  Mrs.  Brompton  that  "  it 
is  different  now." 

"  You  see  the  girls  will  be  going  out  considerably 
-luring  the  season.  If  your  nephew  were  here,  he 
might  expect  to  go  with  them,  and  that,  of  course,  is 
out  of  the  question." 

"  Of  course,"  said  Mr.  Brompton,  but  whether  he 
had  reference  to  the  girls  going  out  or  Edward  ex 
pecting  to  go  with  them  remains  a  question. 

"  Then  we  must  do  some  entertaining  this  fall  and 
winter,  and  it  would  be  unpleasant  for  him  not  to 
have  some  part  in  it.  Besides,  it  would  be  embar 
rassing  for  Percy  and  the  girls  to  be  introducing  a 
cousin,  when  he  is  only  a  clerk  in  Keen  &  Sharp's." 

"  That  is  true,"  assented  Mr.  Brompton,  an  assent 
which  may  have  meant  only  one  or  all  of  Mrs. 
Brompton's  propositions. 

"  Then  Percy  has  his  own  set ;  your  nephew  would 
hardly  enjoy  them,  and  they  certainly  would  not 
enjoy  him." 

"  Probably  not,"  was  Mr.  Brompton's  reply,  which, 
like  a  double-handled  pitcher,  could  be  taken  either 
way. 

"  When  we  are  dining  enfamille  it  will  be  pleas 
ant  to  have  him  drop  in  now  and  then." 

"  Very  pleasant  indeed,"  but  Mr.  Brompton  did 
not  say  if  he  meant  their  dining  enfamille  or  Edward 
dropping  in  occasionally. 

"  Uncle  Mark,"  said  Edward,  that  same  evening, 
as  he  was  with  Mr.  Brompton  in  the  library,  "  now 


THE  BROMPTON  HOUSEHOLD.         145 

that  Mrs.  Brompton  and  my  cousins  have  returned, 
I  cannot  allow  myself  to  trespass  any  longer  on 
your  kindness." 

"  Suit  your  own  convenience,  my  boy,"  Mr.  Bromp 
ton  answered,  with  more  kindness  than  he  was  wont 
to  show.  Then,  too,  he  was  honestly  glad  that  Ed 
ward  had  spoken  of  this  matter,  and  so  soon  after  the 
conversation  of  the  morning. 

"  You  are  exceedingly  kind  to  put  it  in  that  way, 
Uncle  Mark.  I  have  greatly  enjoyed  my  summer 
here  with  you,  but  a  home  nearer  the  office  will  be 
more  convenient." 

"  Have  you  any  place  in  mind  ? " 

"  Yes.  Mr.  Singleton,  the  head  of  my  department 
in  Keen  &  Sharp's,  has  made  inquiries,  and  I  can  be 
accommodated  in  the  same  house  with  him." 

"  Pleasant  house  ? " 

"  Fairly  so  ;  at  least  it  looks  so." 

"  Where  is  it  ?  " 

"  On  a  street  leading  from  "Washington  Square." 

"Is  it  a  hotel?" 

"  No,  a  family  boarding  place." 

"  Expensive  ?"" 

"  O,  dear,  no !  When  I  am  a  partner  in  the  firm 
or  the  president  of  some  insurance  company  I  may 
then  come  uptown,  where  I  can  have  a  suite  of  apart 
ments,  but  for  the  present  I  must  be  content  with  a 
hall  bedroom  and  the  run  of  the  house." 

"  Yes,  I  remember.  In  the  winter  you  warm  the 
room  by  leaving  the  door  open,  getting  what  heat 
you  can  from  the  hall.  Your  room  is  just  about  as 
narrow  as  this,"  drawing  an  imaginary  line  down  the 


146  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 

library,  "with  a  single  bed — wooden,  of  course — and 
painted  brown;  one  chair,  a  shaky  little  table,  a  wash- 
stand,  a  washbowl  considerably  chipped  on  the  edges, 
the  pitcher  broken  at  the  lip,  a  bureau  over  in  one 
corner,  surmounted  by  a  mirror  neither  useful  nor 
ornamental." 

"Evidently  your  memory  has  not  failed  you," 
Edward  said,  a  pleasant  smile  overspreading  his  face. 
"  I  looked  into  my  room  for  a  minute,  and  you  have 
reproduced  it  exactly." 

Mr.  Brompton  said  nothing  for  a  moment  or  two. 
Memories  were  crowding  in  upon  him  of  his  early 
struggles  in  New  York.  A  pained,  dissatisfied  look 
filled  his  eyes  as  he  glanced  swiftly  around  the  large 
but  unhomelike  library.  Then  he  turned  to  Edward, 
and  in  a  voice  which  was  almost  hoarse  said : 

"  I  was  happier  in  just  such  a  room  than  at  any 
time  since." 

"  O,  Uncle  Mark,"  Edward  was  beginning,  in  the 
thoughtless  sympathy  with  which  youth  is  so  gener 
ous,  when  Mr.  Brompton  interrupted  him  by  saying: 

"  Happier,  a  thousand  times  happier.  Then  I  had 
my  dreams,  my  hopes,  my  ambitions,  but  what  have 
I  now  ?  Come  in ! "  for  some  one  tapped  on  the 
library  door,  when  a  servant  entered  with  the  special 
delivery  mail,  which  gave  the  closing  quotations  from 
the  exchanges. 

In  an  instant  Mr.  Brompton's  face  resumed  its 
usual  expression  ;  rapidly  he  scanned  the  lines  of  fig 
ures;  once  he  seemed  as  if  he  would  make  some 
remark  on  the  reports  which  he  was  holding  in  his 
hand,  but  he  went  on  with  study  of  the  lists,  frown- 


THE  BROMPTON  HOUSEHOLD.         147 

ing  slightly  once  or  twice ;  then  lie  stepped  over  and 
laid  them  on  his  desk. 

"  Did  you  tell  Mr.  Singleton  when  he  might  expect 
you  ? "  was  his  next  question. 

"  I  thought,  unless  you  had  some  objection,  I  might 
go  to-morrow." 

"  To-morrow  is  Saturday.  Why  not  remain  here 
over  Sunday  ? " 

"  Saturday  being  a  half-holiday,  I  could  spend  part 
of  the  day  in  getting  to  rights,  and  so  be  able  to 
begin  the  week  in  my  new  home." 

And  was  that  the  only  reason,  Mr.  Edward 
Yaughen  ?  Had  not  some  mysterious  influence  in 
formed  him  that  the  Brompton  household  would 
prefer  not  to  be  embarrassed  with  his  presence  ?  If 
he  remained  over  Sunday  he  could  not  but  accom 
pany  the  family  to  church,  for  on  this  first  Sunday 
after  returning  from  abroad  Mrs.  Brompton  would 
see  to  it  that  the  family  occupied  the  conspicuous  pew 
which  had  been  comparatively  vacant  so  long.  If 
Edward  was  in  the  family  he  must,  of  course,  have  a 
place  in  this  pew.  That  would  give  him  recognition 
at  once,  more  especially  when  it  is  remembered  that 
many  of  Keen  &  Sharp's  clientage  were  in  that 
congregation.  With  such  contingencies  as  these  it 
was  not  to  be  expected  that  Mrs.  Brompton  could  be 
in  love  and  charity  with  all  men  or  enjoy  the  privi 
leges  of  the  sanctuary  in  her  usual  devout  way. 

Had  she  said  anything  of  this  to  Edward  Yaughen  ? 
It  is  only  men  who  are  so  clumsy  and  awkward  as  to 
have  recourse  to  words.  To  such  a  woman  as  Mrs. 
Brompton  words  are  almost  superfluous.  She  could 


148  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

smile  in  italics.  With  the  twitching  of  a  lip,  the 
movement  of  a  nostril,  the  set  of  her  chin,  she  could 
deliver  an  oration  and  yet  not  open  her  mouth.  A 
flash  of  her  eye  contained  more  matter  than  a  printer 
could  set  up  in  a  whole  day. 

Hence  not  a  word  was  said  to  Edward  Yaughen, 
nor  did  Mrs.  Brompton  fail  in  anything  of  courtesy ; 
nevertheless  before  even  she  had  spoken  to  her 
husband  Edward  had  concluded  his  arrangements 
with  Mr.  Singleton. 

"  Mark,"  Mrs.  Brompton  said  that  night,  as  she 
came  into  her  husband's  room  for  a  few  moments  be 
fore  retiring,  where  she  found  him  still  examining 
the  papers  which  had  come  during  his  conversation 
with  Edward  Vaughen,  "  have  you  had  an  oppor 
tunity  of  speaking  to  your  nephew  of  the  matter  we 
talked  of  this  morning  ? " 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply,  looking  up  for  a  moment 
from  the  exchange  lists. 

"  Of  course  you  mentioned  it  to  him  ?  "  yet  while 
she  assumed  that  he  had,  still  there  was  a  lingering 
doubt. 

"  No,"  Mark  answered,  not  without  a  sense  of 
enjoyment. 

"  No  ? "  she  repeated,  and  this  time  the  interroga 
tion  point  was  very  manifest.  "  I  fully  expected 
that  this  would  have  been  arranged  before  Sunday." 

"  So  it  will,"  Mr.  Brompton  said,  reassuringly. 
"  Edward  mentioned  the  matter  to  me,  not,  however, 
before  he  had  made  his  own  arrangements  for  leav- 
ing." 

"  He  mentioned  it  ?  "     Mrs.  Brompton's  question 


THE  BROMPTON  HOUSEHOLD.        149 

was  set  in  a  delicate  tracery  of  doubt,  like  a  diamond 
pin  in  a  bit  of  rare  old  lace. 

"Yes.  He  has  engaged  rooms  downtown,  and 
will  leave  here  to-morrow." 

How  many  things  will  work  out  of  themselves  if 
we  only  let  them  alone  !  If  our  patience  were  only 
equal  to  our  impatience,  how  much  easier  life  would 
be  !  But,  instead  of  waiting  for  the  tide  to  come  up 
and  float  the  difficulty  away,  we  tug  and  pull  and 
strain,  using  up  strength  which  we  can  ill  afford. 

If  Mrs.  Brompton  had  waited  for  but  one  more 
day,  how  pleasantly  Edward  Yaughen's  leave-taking 
would  have  arranged  itself !  Only  think  of  all  the 
pleasant  things  she  could  have  said — chiding  him  for 
leaving  so  abruptly,  urging  him  to  come  in  at  any 
time,  hoping  he  would  consider  himself  one  of  the 
family,  even  regretting  that  he  had  thought  of  going 
away  at  all ! 

Just  about  the  time  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brompton 
were  discussing  Edward  Yaughen  two  other  members 
of  the  Brompton  household  had  the  same  theme  under 
consideration. 

"  I  think  Cousin  Edward  might  have  remained 
with  us  all  winter,"  said  Janet.  "  One  more  or  less 
would  not  make  much  difference  in  a  house  so  large 
as  ours." 

"  Janet,  I  am  surprised  at  you,"  Ethel  said,  with  a 
fair  degree  of  sisterly  asperity. 

"  I  see  no  reason  why  you  should  be." 

"  What  would  people  say  ? " 

"  That  we  had  given  a  home  to  our  cousin,  a  young 
man  who  had  recently  come  to  the  city." 


150  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"It  is  the  cousin  part  of  the  young  man  that 
causes  the  trouble." 

"  Ethel,  that  is  downright  nonsense." 

"  Janet,  you  are  positively  rude." 

"  Supposing  I  am,  what  has  that  to  do  with  the 
cousin  part  of  Edward  Vaughen  ? " 

"  Everything.  Can  we  have  him  tagging  every 
where  after  us  ?  Must  he  be  included  in  every 
invitation  that  comes  to  the  house?  "When  our 
friends  are  here  is  he  to  be  presented  as  a  member  of 
the  family  ?  Think  of  introducing  Mrs.  Sharp  to  her 
husband's  clerk  or  Miss  Keen  to  her  father's  office- 
boy  ;  for  he  is  not  much,  if  anything,  more ! " 

"Nevertheless,  Ethel,  it  does  not  seem  the  right 
thing  to  have  one's  own  cousin  go  off  to  a  common 
boarding  house,  while  we  have  any  number  of  empty 
rooms." 

"  It  is  just  as  I  said  a  moment  since — the  cousin 
part  is  the  cause  of  the  embarrassment." 

"  Then  let  l  Mr.  Edward  Vaughen,  a  visiting  friend 
from  Eastwich,'  remain  here ;  let  the  cousin  part, 
which  so  distresses  you,  remain  in  the  office  of  Keen 
&  Sharp." 

"  Janet,  you  never  have  any  difficulty  in  being 
absurd." 

"Nor  you,  Ethel,  in  being  unkind." 

"  It  is  but  a  few  moments  since  I  said  yon  were 
positively  rude." 

"  Very  likely  ;  you  have  a  genius  for  saying  hate 
ful  things." 

"Janet!" 

"  Ethel ! " 


THE  BROMPTON  HOUSEHOLD.         151 

They  were  botli  angry  by  this  time,  and  both  char 
acteristically  angry. 

Ethel's  anger  was  cold,  deliberate,  of  the  cog-pinion 
order,  the  one  part  fitting  into  the  other  part  with 
terrible  precision.  Ethel  never  lost  her  temper, 
hardly  ever  varied  her  tone,  and  among  those  who 
were  not  favored  with  her  intimate  friendship  was 
regarded  as  of  a  most  patient  disposition. 

Janet's  anger  was  hot,  impulsive,  galvanic,  pas 
sionate  ;  sometimes  she  would  get  into  a  towering 
rage.  Janet  lost  her  temper,  she  raised  her  voice, 
and  was  spoken  of  quite  freely  by  certain  of  her 
friends. 

These  sisters  quarreled  frequently,  though  never 
in  public,  and  such  sisterly  admonitions  as  each  felt 
called  to  bestow  upon  the  other  were  given  in  the 
sacred  precincts  of  home. 

Meantime  Edward  Vanghen's  trunk,  containing 
most  of  his  worldly  possessions,  was  in  his  little  hall 
bedroom,  so  faithfully  described  by  his  Uncle  Mark. 
The  next  day  he  bade  farewell — a  farewell  which 
cannot  truthfully  be  spoken  of  as"  aggressively  affec 
tionate  " — to  the  Brompton  household. 


152  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XVIIL 

The  Firm  of  Linsey  &  Woolsey. 

|UT  all  this  time  what  of  Mrs.  Sauvier  ?  "When 
we  saw  her  last  she  was  slowly  recovering 
from  a  long,  serious  illness — a  recovery  which 
was  very  much  retarded  by  Sister  Nora's  unfortunate 
mention  of  Dr.  Disney's  name,  and  its  strange  effect 
upon  the  sick  woman. 

Sister  Nora  knew  Dr.  Disney  very  well,  for  he  had 
attended  her  mother  in  that  long,  sad  sickness,  the 
memory  of  which  would  cast  its  shadow  upon  all  of 
life.  He  had  also  been  with  her  at  the  time  of  her 
father's  death,  and  had  been  exceedingly  tender  and 
sympathetic.  No  physician  could  have  been  more  at 
tentive,  no  one  more  willing  or  thoughtful  or  kind,  no 
one  more  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  every  duty  or 
more  watchful  of  those  under  his  care.  When 
finally  those  dread  moments  came,  in  which  science 
and  skill  stand  helpless,  how  gently  he  led  her  from 
the  room;  nor  did  his  courteous  attentions  cease 
when  his  duties  as  a  physician  ended,  but  as  a  friend 
and  adviser  he  was  most  helpful  in  every  way. 

All  these  things  Sister  Nora  gratefully  remem 
bered,  for  she  was  preeminently  just ;  and  yet  try  as 
she  would  there  was  a  certain  feeling  of  distrust,  even 
fear,  associated  with  his  name.  Hence  when  she 
recalled  that  scene  in  Mrs.  Sauvier's  she  found 
herself  wondering  as  to  its  cause  and  meaning. 


THE    FIRM   OF   LINSEY   &  WOOLSEY.  153 

But  whatever  the  secret  was  Mrs.  Sauvier  kept  it 
to  herself,  not  even  referring  to  it,  merely  requesting 
that  the  visit  of  Madge  Disney  be  postponed,  for  the 
present  at  any  rate. 

As  for  Oberta,  the  summer  had  gone  in  much  the 
usual  way,  for  just  as  soon  as  it  was  possible  she  re 
sumed  her  place  in  the  store  of  Linsey  &  Woolsey  as 
saleswoman. 

Oberta  had  hardly  crossed  the  line  of  childhood 
when  she  discovered  that  her  mother's  needle  was  the 
chief  source  of  the  family  supplies.  She  determined, 
therefore,  at  the  first  opportunity  to  relieve  her 
mother  of  something  of  the  burden  which  she  had 
borne  so  patiently  all  these  years.  The  child  was 
brave,  independent,  of  high  spirit,  and  though  at 
first  Mrs.  Sauvier  would  not  listen  to  Oberta's  sug 
gestion,  yet  in  the  end  the  girl  prevailed. ' 

She  began  her  public  duties  one  Christmas  sea 
son,  when  the  rush  of  trade  was  so  great  that  the 
ordinary  service  was  not  sufficient  to  meet  the 
throngs  who  crowd  into  the  big  stores  to  do  their 
sight-seeing  and  holiday  shopping.  For  nearly  two 
weeks  she  edged  her  way  through  the  blocked-up 
aisles ;  she  dodged  in  and  out  among  the  customers 
at  every  counter ;  she  carried  her  little  basket  with 
its  tiny  parcels  to  the  nimble-fingered  wrappers  and 
cashiers,  hurrying  back  with  all  possible  speed  ;  she 
tried  her  best  to  respond  to  the  calls  of  "  Cash !  "  or 
the  tapping  of  impatient  clerks  on  the  counters, 
which  calls  and  tapping  hardly  ceased  for  a  moment. 

As  the  days  wore  on,  her  eyes  became  larger,  the 
hollows  in  her  cheeks  deepened,  her  face  lost  all 


154  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

glow  and  color,  her  tired  feet  ached  and  burned,  and 
sometimes  she  could  have  cried  out  in  weariness  and 
pain.  At  such  times  she  thought  of  her  mother 
working  patiently  at  home,  and  of  what  this  Christ 
mas  money  would  mean  to  her.  Then  a  new  light 
would  flash  into  her  drooping  eyes,  her  weary  limbs 
would  take  on  fresh  life,  the  spirit  of  a  woman  would 
enter  the  body  of  the  child,  and  with  renewed  cour 
age  she  went  on. 

Often  she  found  herself  wondering  as  to  the  peo 
ple  who  came  in  and  went  out,  most  of  whom  had 
for  her  only  an  impatient  glance  or  an  angry  word, 
all  because  she  had  feet  instead  of  wings,  and  had  to 
take  her  turn  at  the  wrapping  counter  with  the 
others.  Often  a  whole  day  would  pass  without  a 
pleasant  word  being  spoken  to  her,  except  by  the 
clerks  at  whose  counters  she  served.  Christmas 
shoppers  may  not  intend  to  be  brutal,  but  they  are 
often  thoughtless,  and  it  is  at  the  line  where  "  one 
doesn't  think  "  that  brutality  begins.  Oberta  shed  a 
great  many  heart  tears  during  these  weary  days,  but 
she  never  complained  at  home.  Once  in  a  while 
questions  came  to  her  which  caused  her  trouble.  As, 
for  instance,  when  she  saw  fathers  buying  all  kinds 
of  presents  for  their  children  she  wondered  why  she 
had  no  father  to  buy  presents  for  her.  Or  when  she 
saw  mothers  who  had  money  in  abundance  she  won 
dered  why  at  that  moment  her  mother  should  be 
sewing  the  commonest  garments  in  order  to  have 
money  to  buy  bread.  Or  when  she  looked  on  such 
an  immense  variety  of  toys — skates,  drums,  rocking 
horses,  boats,  bats,  balls,  everything  that  a  boy  could 


THE   FIRM   OF   LINSEY  &  WOOLSEY.  155 

ask  for — she  wondered  why  Fred  could  not  have 
some  of  them. 

One  day  a  man,  apparently  of  the  superior  type  of 
workman,  came  in  accompanied  by  a  sad-faced 
woman  dressed  in  mourning.  He  looked  at  Oberta 
for  a  moment  or  two,  and  then  whispered  something 
to  the  woman.  She  turned  to  Oberta,  who  was  at 
the  next  counter,  and  on  seeing  her  a  soft,  tender 
mist  came  over  her  eyes  and  a  quiver  upon  her  lips. 
Poor  thing !  Only  a  few  weeks  before  their  little 
girl  of  about  the  same  age  as  Oberta,  and  whom 
Oberta  strongly  resembled,  had  been  taken  from 
them,  and  their  home  was  now  desolate. 

Watching  his  opportunity,  the  man  slipped  a  piece 
of  paper  into  Oberta's  hand,  whispering  at  the  same 
moment,  "  God  bless  you,  little  one ! "  Before 
Oberta  recovered  from  her  surprise  the  man  and 
woman  had  gone,  and  when  she  opened  the  paper 
which  had  been  put  in  her  hand  she  found  it  was 
a  two-dollar  bill.  That  night  she  and  Fred  held  a 
long  council,  and  for  the  first  time  in  their  lives  had 
a  secret  which  their  mother  did  not  share.  But  on 
Christmas  morning,  when  Mrs.  Sauvier  went  to  the 
little  kitchen  to  prepare  the  breakfast,  there  on  the 
table  was  a  nice  little  shoulder  shawl,  done  up  with  a 
pair  of  warm  felt  slippers,  marked,  "  To  our  darling 
mamma,  from  Oberta  and  Fred."  The  dear  woman 
had  barely  read  the  writing  on  the  paper  (it  was 
Fred's  writing,  and  not  very  clear)  when  two  pairs  of 
arms  were  around  her  neck,  two  bright,  glad  faces 
were  looking  happily  into  hers,  and  two  joyous 
voices  were  wishing  her  a  merry  Christmas. 
11 


156  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

But  Mrs.  Sauvier  was  not  the  only  one  who  was 
surprised  that  morning,  for  when  Fred  sat  down  to 
breakfast  he  kicked  something  under  the  table  which 
rattled  in  a  strange  way.  In  an  instant  the  queer- 
looking  parcel  was  opened,  revealing  a  pair  of  skates, 
which  he  proceeded  to  try  on  before  he  had  eaten  a 
morsel.  Oberta's  chair  was  pushed  in  under  the 
table  as  far  as  it  would  go,  and  when  she  drew  it  out 
there  was  just  the  little  hand  muff  which  she  had 
been  secretly  wishing  for  ever  since  the  holiday  sea 
son  began.  So  there  was  more  hugging  and  more 
kissing,  and  though  the  breakfast  was  very  simple, 
yet  it  was  a  glad  Christmas  for  them  all. 

The  faithful  little  cash  girl  had  not  escaped  the 
notice  of  the  "floorwalker"  in  whose  department 
she  had  served,  so  it  was  not  long  before  a  letter 
came  addressed,  "  Miss  Sauvier,  329  — th  Street, 
City,"  which  she  opened  with  a  feeling  of  awe,  for  it 
was  the  first  letter  she  had  ever  received.  It  proved 
to  be  a  request  to  call  at  the  store  of  Linsey  & 
Woolsey  at  nine  o'clock  on  the  following  morning. 
At  the  hour  named  she  was  there,  and  to  her  great 
joy  was  engaged  for  regular  work.  From  cash  girl 
she  was  promoted  in  usual  order,  so  that  now,  at 
the  time  suggested  by  our  story,  she  is  in  "  cloaks 
and  wraps,"  on  the  third  floor,  and  is  regarded 
by  the  firm  as  a  most  painstaking  and  reliable  sales 
woman. 

It  was  fortunate  for  Oberta  that  at  the  beginning 
of  her  working  life  she  found  an  opening  in  the 
house  of  Linsey  &  Woolsey,  for  this  firm  was  not 
only  honorable  in  its  dealings  with  the  general  pub- 


THE   FIRM    OF   LINSEY   &   WOOLSEY.  157 

lie,  but  maintained  the  same  high  standard  with  all 
who  were  in  its  service. 

Both  of  the  partners  were  humane,  considerate, 
careful  of  the  interest  of  their  employees,  and  exer 
cised  over  them  the  most  healthful  influence.  They 
were  strict  men,  insisting  upon  the  rules  of  the  estab 
lishment,  and  demanded  a  recognition  of  their  rights 
as  employers,  but  they  were  also  just  men,  recogniz 
ing  with  the  utmost  impartiality  the  rights  of  others. 
Hence  they  allowed  no  miserable  system  of  "  fines," 
by  which  a  clerk  will  be  robbed  of  the  wages  which 
are  supposed  to  be  paid.  Nor  would  they  permit 
any  peremptory  dismissal  for  mistakes — mistakes 
which  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  are  caused  by  the  care 
lessness  or  stupidity  of  the  customers  themselves. 

Under  no  circumstances  would  they  tolerate  the 
"  premium  "  business,  neither  would  they  give  a  re 
ward  for  working  off  upon  unsuspecting  customers 
goods  which  were  either  unsalable  or  not  what  they 
were  represented  to  be.  Their  clerks  were  not  paid 
for  lying  or  promoted  for  conniving  at  fraud.  Both 
honor  and  honesty  had  place  in  every  department  of 
the  store.  Men  and  women  could  have  a  conscience 
and  yet  not  lose  their  situations.  To  make  sales  it 
was  not  necessary  to  lie  and  deceive. 

Most  sternly  Linsey  &  Woolsey  refused  to  enter 
into  that  horrible  strife  which  meant  starvation  to 
needlewomen  and  seamstresses.  Such  garments  as 
were  put  upon  their  counters  were  not  made  by 
women  who  worked  fifteen  or  sixteen  hours  every 
day,  and  even  then  not  earning  enough  to  keep  away 
actual  hunger ! 


158  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"  Are  such  things  possible  in  New  York  ?  "  some 
one  once  asked  Sister  Nora. 

"  Possible ! "  she  answered,  her  eyes  blazing  with 
indignation.  "  Possible  !  Go  over  into  some  of  the 

o 

side  streets ;  look  out  of  the  elevated  trains  even ; 
see  the  crowded  workrooms  where  men  and  women 
are  huddled ;  look  at  the  weary,  despairing  faces ; 
listen  to  the  ceaseless  hum  of  the  sewing  machines 
over  which  women  are  bending  with  aching  backs, 
straining  eyes,  burning  foreheads,  and  hopeless  hearts. 
O,  it  is  terrible!  And  if  you  onty  knew  the  pitiful 
wages  which  these  poor  creatures  receive,  your  soul 
would  burn  with  holy  shame,  as  mine  does  every  time 
I  think  of  it." 

But  Linsey  &  Woolsey  had  no  part  in  this  gross 
abomination.  No  typhoid-laden,  death-containing, 
hunger-stricken  bundles  came  to  their  "receiving 
entrance."  No  woman  left  their  store  with  a  "  bar 
gain"  in  which  the  germs  of  a  fatal  disease  were 
mysteriously  folded,  hiding  the  ghastly  outlines  of 
sickness  and  death. 

The  result  of  all  this  was  that  the  store  of  Linsey 
&  Woolsey  was  never  packed  and  crowded  as  some 
other  stores  are.  No  lines  of  frantic,  jostling  women 
pushed  and  elbowed  their  way  to  bargain  counters 
and  mark-down  sales.  The  people  who  came  here 
were  of  that  type  who  expect  no  more  than  what 
they  pay  for,  and  who  think  that  the  principle  of 
honesty  should  obtain  just  as  much  in  the  buying  of 
a  piece  of  ribbon  or  a  pocket  handkerchief  as  in  the 
management  of  a  cathedral. 

On  that  day  when  Sister  Nora  mentioned  the  name 


THE    FIRM    OF   LINSEY  &  WOOLSEY.  159 

of  Dr.  Disney  to  Mrs.  Sauvier,  so  strange  was  the 
effect  produced,  and  with  such  emphasis  did  Mrs. 
Sauvier  repeat  the  name,  that  it  made  a  very  deep 
impression  upon  Oberta.  Most  vividly  did  she  recall 
that  scene,  earnestly  wondering  what  it  all  meant. 

One  day  a  party  of  three  young  ladies  came  to  her 
department  "just  to  look  around,"  as  one  of  them 
said,  with  pleasant  frankness.  But,  like  many  others 
who  go  into  stores  "  just  to  look  around,"  they  soon 
became  quite  interested.  As  they  seemed  to  have 
some  time  to  spare  they  went  from  one  rack  to  an 
other,  looking,  examining,  asking  questions,  and 
finally  proceeded  to  "  try  on."  It  fell  to  Oberta's 
lot  to  wait  upon  them,  which  she  did  in  her  usual 
careful  and  painstaking  way. 

One  of  these  young  ladies  was  cold,  curt,  abrupt, 
with  a  tincture  of  iron  in  her  voice,  and  the  sug 
gestion  of  early  persimmons  ill  her  general  bear 
ing. 

The  second  of  the  party  was  rather  loud-voiced, 
needlessly  frank,  generously  critical,  and  while  even 
more  imperious  than  the  other  one,  whom  Oberta 
imagined  was  her  sister,  yet  she  was  not  so  distinctly 
offensive,  and  after  a  time  settled  down  to  a  fair 
measure  of  agreeability. 

Both  of  them,  however,  were  careful  to  give  proper 
emphasis  to  the  one  serving  and  the  one  served,  nor 
was  there  in  either  case  the  slightest  recognition  of 
any  human  relationship.  The  idea  that  Oberta  might 
possibly  be  a  woman  of  like  nature  with  themselves 
never  once  occurred  to  them  ;  so  far,  therefore,  as 
any  feeling  of  kinship  was  concerned,  she  meant  no 


160  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

more  to  them  than  the  padded,  armless  dummies 
upon  which  some  of  the  costumes  were  displayed. 

And  why  should  they  ?  "Was  not  their  carriage  at 
the  door  ?  Were  they  not  the  daughters  of  Mrs. 
Mark  Brompton  ? 

The  third  one  of  the  group,  as  the  other  two  were 
examining  something  which  specially  attracted  them, 
spoke  pleasantly  to  Oberta,  and,  finding  that  she  re 
sponded  in  the  same  way,  entered  into  quite  a  little 
conversation  with  her.  Ethel  and  Janet  not  return 
ing  for  some  time,  the  conversation  went  on,  until  in 
some  way  the  name  of  Mr.  Dunbar  was  mentioned. 

"  You  know  Mr.  Dunbar  ? "  said  Madge  Disney, 
for  it  was  she,  a  glad  light  filling  her  face.  "  He  is  a 
very  dear  friend  of  ours.  My  brother  was  with  him 
in  college.  My  name  is  Disney.  Dr.  Disney  is  my 
father." 

In  the  hard  school  in  which  Oberta  had  spent  most 
of  her  life  she  had  learned  to  control  herself  under 
almost  every  circumstance,  but  just  as  a  lightning 
flash  breaking  out  of  the  black  sky  in  darkest  night 
reveals  in  that  instant  a  whole  expanse  of  heaven  and 
earth,  so  in  a  moment  she  saw  her  mother  lying  on 
the  bed,  she  heard  Sister  Nora  mention  the  name  of 
Dr.  Disney,  and  then  the  mysterious  cry  of  her 
mother,  "  The  ways  of  God !  the  ways  of  God  !  " 

And  now  here  was  Madge  Disney  speaking  with 
her,  face  to  face ! 

"  We  are  ready,  Miss  Disney,  when  you  are,"  came 
like  a  steel  lance  from  Ethel  Brompton,  who  with 
her  sister  had  returned  from  a  general  tour  of  inspec 
tion.  To  the  firm  this  was  not  a  very  profitable  tour. 


THE   FIRM    OF   LINSEY   &  WOOLSEY.  161 

The  visible  results  were  seen  in  several  heaps  of 
tumbled  garments  and  fabrics.  They  had  kept  two 
or  three  customers  waiting  while  they  leisurely  called 
for  one  pattern  after  another,  making  comparisons 
and  asking  all  manner  of  questions.  As  for  thank 
ing  the  clerks  for  their  courtesy  and  bidding  them  a 
pleasant  good  morning,  such  a  thing  was  not  sup- 
posable  in  their  case. 

Madge,  however,  would  allow  no  one  to  be  her  su 
perior  in  good  manners,  going  even  so  far  as  to  shake 
hands  with  Oberta  and  express  her  pleasure  at  hav 
ing  made  her  acquaintance.  That  handshaking  epi 
sode  was  too  much  for  the  Bromptons ;  Janet  was 
almost  rude  enough  to  laugh  at  this  display  of  Jack- 
sonian  simplicity,  while  Ethel's  thin  nose  took  on 
an  edge  which,  wedgelike,  cleaved  the  dusty  air  and 
cut  an  open  way  to  her  carriage. 

That  evening  while  Oberta  and  her  mother  were 
enjoying  their  usual  chat  Oberta  alluded  to  the  visit 
at  the  store,  gradually  leading  up  to  the  mention  of 
Miss  Disney's  name.  Mrs.  Sauvier  listened  eagerly, 
but  made  no  reply.  That  night  she  moaned  heavily 
in  her  sleep.  In  the  morning,  when  she  came  to 
breakfast,  her  face  was  drawn  and  anxious,  while 
deep,  heavy  lines  were  under  her  eyes. 


162  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

A  Downtown  Boarding  House. 

THE  change  from  the  Brompton  Mansion  on 
Fifth  Avenue  to  a  downtown  boarding  house 
was  fully  as  decided  as  Edward  Vaughen  was 
prepared  for.  But  youth  is  hopeful,  buoyant,  adjust 
able,  and  as  a  general  tiling  fairly  independent. 

Though  Mrs.  Brompton  had  not  said  anything, 
Edward  was  certain  he  understood  what  her  wishes 
were ;  hence  he  determined  to  make  himself  as  com 
fortable  as  was  possible  under  the  circumstances. 
He  wrote  to  his  mother,  going  over  the  whole  matter 
in  the  most  frank  and  simple  way,  careful,  however, 
not  to  blame  anyone,  but  Mrs.  Vaughen  had  no  dif 
ficulty  in  discovering  just  where  the  trouble  was. 
Her  reply  convinced  Edward  that  he  was  not  to 
blame  for  the  wordless  argument  between  Mi's. 
Brompton  and  himself. 

"  Some  quiet  hour,  my  friend,"  John  Disney  had 
once  said  to  him,  "  when  you  are  in  a  reminiscent 
mood,  and  with  softly  slippered  feet  move  down  the 
aisles  of  the  years,  as  a  noiseless  verger  in  a  cathe 
dral,  two  tilings  will  give  you  much  satisfaction — 
the  comfort  you  have  derived  from  following  your 
own  advice,  and  the  regret  that  your  friends  did  not 
follow  the  advice  you  gave  them." 

John  went  on,  with  just  pause  enougli  to  give 
Edward  time  to  think  over  his  weighty  words : 


A   DOWNTOWN    BOARDING   HOUSE.  163 

"  Here  is  a  publisher's  announcement — '  Every 
man  his  own  lawyer,'  which  really  means,  '  Every 
man  his  own  adviser.'  That  is  right.  The  wise 
man  gives  advice,  but  takes  none.  It  is  perfectly 
true  that  *  in  the  multitude  of  counselors  there  is 
safety,'  for  the  simple  reason  that  they  never  agree  ; 
thus  the  man  is  free  to  follow  his  own  judgment." 

Edward,  however,  would  have  attached  great 
weight  to  his  mother's  opinion,  whichever  way  she 
had  decided.  Still  he  was  all  the  more  satisfied  now 
that  she  agreed  with  him. 

That  "third  floor,  hall  back"  of  his  was  not  a  bad 
little  snuggery,  after  all.  True,  it  was  furnished 
about  as  Mark  Brompton  had  described  ;  in  addition, 
however,  it  contained  an  easy  chair,  or,  rather,  rocker, 
"  with  arms,"  as  lie  wrote  to  his  mother,  from  which 
letter  we  may  quote : 

"...  Yes,  with  arms,  only  think  of  it!  One  of 
the  arms  is  rather  shy,  and  so  sensitive  that  anything 
like  undue  familiarity  is  resented  by  a  collapse,  which 
for  the  time  is  serious.  The  other  arm,  however, 
is  more  accustomed  to  the  ways  of  mankind,  though 
there  is  nothing  tenderly  affectionate  in  it ;  still  it 
permits  of  a  fair  measure  of  attention  without  serious 
protest. 

"The  back  of  this  chair,  with  a  spirit  which  one 
cannot  but  respect,  covers  up  the  ravages  of  time 
with  a  fretwork  of  rare  handicraft.  I  regret,  though, 
that  it  eludes  all  efforts  at  investigation,  so  that 
whether  it  is  a  '  tidy '  of  the  prehistoric  period,  or  the 
remains  of  a  Grand  Yizier's  towel  of  the  time  of 
Aladdin,  cannot  well  be  determined.  One  of  the 


164  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

rockers  is  somewhat  demonstrative.  It  has  a  way  of 
responding  with  a  *  click,  clack '  which,  while  it  does 
not  take  away  from  the  actual  comfort  of  the  chair, 
interferes  with  that  sense  of  motion  which  is  the 
peculiar  charm  of  this  article  of  furniture.  But  it  is 
quite  a  chair,  and  as  I  sit  in  it  smoking  my  evening 
pipe  I  am  far  from  uncomfortable. 

"  My  one  window  commands  an  extensive  view  of 
my  neighbors'  backyards,  with  fences  and  clothes-lines 
in  mathematic  order.  For  utilization  of  space  a  back 
yard  in  New  York  is  a  study.  Hothouses,  graperies, 
flowerbeds,  lawns,  shrubbery,  beautifully  laid  out, 
within  boundaries  of  about  twenty  feet  square! 
Sometime  I  must  tell  you  of  my  neighbors,  with 
whom  I  have  formed  an  imaginary  acquaintance,  and 
in  whom  my  interest  steadily  grows. 

"  My  landlady  is  not  a  bad  sort ;  indeed,  she  is  dis 
posed  to  be  kind,  at  times  almost  motherly,  but  her 
name  distresses  me — Mrs.  Jemima  Gubbins.  The 
'Jemima'  I  can  understand,  for  it  was  given  by  Job 
to  one  of  his  daughters  (Jemima  Job  doesn't  sound 
nice,  though  we  are  told  the  girl  was),  but  Gubbins 
has  an  origin  more  mysterious  than  the  sources  of  the 
Nile. 

"  Mr.  Gubbins  so  far  has  not  been  presented  nor 
even  visible,  but,  then,  he  may  have  a  milk  route  or 
a  market  stand,  in  which  case  he  gets  not  only  the 
early  worm,  but  the  early  bird.  Miss  Gubbins,  how 
ever,  is  here — a  blushing,  gushing  damsel  of  stalwart 
proportions  and  marked  opulence  of  flesh.  Miss 
Gubbins  has  mental  limitations  of  a  high  order,  but 
as  most  of  her  blushing  and  gushing  is  done  when 


A   DOWNTOWN    BOARDING   HOUSE.  165 

the  grocery  clerk  is  here  in  the  morning  taking  the 
orders  for  the  day,  she  is  within  the  pale  of  forgive 
ness. 

"  I  have  already  described  Mr.  Singleton,  so  you 
are  fairly  acquainted  with  him. 

"  One  of  our  family  is  a  Mr.  Rodney  "Wright,  a 
gentleman  of  theatrical  propensities,  who  has  written 
two  or  three  very  fair  plays  which  would  be  quite 
successful  only  that  he  insists  upon  playing  the  star 
part  himself.  To  write  or  not  to  Wright  ? 

"  Then,  of  course,  we  have  our  humorist,  the  man 
of  antique  conundrums,  of  jokes  unrolled  from 
Egyptian  mummies,  of  wit  cobwebbed  by  centuries. 
The  humorist  is  great  sport,  but  as  Miss  Gubbins  in 
variably  laughs  at  what  he  says,  and  we  invariably 
laugh  at  him,  all  are  accommodated. 

"  "We  have  also  an  artist.  He  affects  the  Bohe 
mian,  comes  down  to  breakfast  in  a  velveteen  jacket, 
wears  loose,  low  collars  a  la  Byron,  allows  his  necktie 
to  divide  in  streamers,  with  picturesque  results.  He 
is  a  good-looking  fellow,  and  so  far  as  I  can  judge  he 
is  a  good  fellow,  which  is  of  more  importance. 

"  Then  we  have  a  newspaper  man  who  is  full  of 
all  sorts  of  public  gossip,  who  has  the  names  of 
nearly  all  the  prominent  people  at  his  tongue's  end, 
and  who  rattles  along  very  pleasantly.  He  is  about 
my  age.  I  am  going  to  like  him. 

"  I  must  not  forget  Miss  Pollok,  whose  course  of 
time  has  run  through  at  least  forty  annual  editions. 
The  light  of  hope,  however,  burns  upon  the  altar  of 
her  maiden  heart  with  undiminished  ardor,  and  her 
eager,  yearning  eyes  but  faintly  express  the  desire  of 


166  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

her  soul.  Her  Christian  name  is  Felicia;  her  occu 
pation  is  that  of  school-teacher.  She  indulges  in 
love  songs  and  ballads,  the  ballads  usually  of  the  tear 
ful  order. 

"  I  have  not  time  just  now  to  write  you  of  our 
family  life,  but  as  things  come  to  me  I  will  share 
them  with  you.  I  am  beginning  to  get  hold  of  rny 
work  in  the  office,  but,  of  course,  everything  is  com 
paratively  new. 

"  I  had  a  letter  this  morning  from  John  Disney 
in  which  he  says  that  Mrs.  Disney  wishes  me  to  take 
dinner  with  them  to-morrow  evening.  You  would 
like  Miss  Disney ;  she  is  a  bright,  nice  girl.  .  .  ." 

Good  for  you,  Edward  Yaughen  ! 

Not  a  whimper  in  his  letters,  nor  a  sign  of  loneli 
ness  or  homesickness.  Not  a  grumble  at  the  hard, 
dull  work  in  the  office,  nor  a  complaint  at  the  barren 
ness  of  his  life. 

But  did  he  deceive  his  mother?  His  letters  were 
merely  an  open  latticework  through  which  she  saw 
the  brave  fight  her  boy  was  making.  She  could  not 
forbear  a  smile  occasionally  at  his  pleasantries.  Yet 
to  her  these  were  but  tear  drops  through  which 
Edward  flashed  arrows  of  light.  He  often  wondered 
at  her  replies,  for  she  without  advising  yet  advised, 
and  without  restraining  yet  restrained,  showing  on  her 
part  a  tact  and  delicacy  of  which  only  wise  mothers 
are  capable. 

Being  yet  in  the  shadow  of  recent  bereavement, 
the  Disneys  could  not  give  a  regular  dinner  party, 
so  only  a  few  special  friends  were  invited.  John 
was  most  desirous  that  Edward  Vaughen  be  included, 


A   DOWNTOWN    BOARDING   HOUSE.  167 

urging  it  strongly  upon  both  Mrs.  Disney  and 
Madge. 

"Just  think  of  him  in  such  a  city  as  this  without 
a  soul  to  speak  to  except  the  people  in  his  boarding 
house  or  the  clerks  in  the  office." 

"  He  has  the  Bromptons,"  said  Mrs.  Disney.  "  Be 
sides,  they  are  his  own  people." 

"  In  a  sense  they  are  his  own  people,  but  you  see 
how  quietly  they  have  disposed  of  him."  John 
spoke  with  some  heat,  for  though  Edward  had  said 
nothing  about  his  eviction  from  the  Brompton  man 
sion,  he  understood  it  perfectly. 

"But  how  can  we  take  up  a  young  man  when  his 
own  relatives,  who  are  our  f riends,  will  not  do  it  ? " 

"  Remember,  my  dear  mother,  that  he  was  my 
close,  intimate  friend  for  four  years,  and  a  straighter, 
manlier  fellow  is  not  in  New  York.  I  have  no 
patience  with  such  silly  pride  as  that  of  the  Bromp- 
tous.  A  real  top-lofty,  '  come  over  with  the  Con 
queror'  aristocracy  I  can  forgive,  but  heaven  deliver 
us  from  shoddy  !  " 

"But,  John,"  put  in  Madge,  "it  is  not  the 
Bromptons  who  trouble  us,  only  how  are  we  going  to 
explain — " 

"  Don't  explain,"  John  said,  before  Madge  had  fin 
ished  her  sentence;  "let  things  explain  themselves. 
There  is  no  need  to  say  anything  whatever.  Ed 
ward  Vaughen  is  more  than  Mr.  Brompton's  nephew. 
He  can  get  along  without  the  background  of  Mrs. 
Brompton's  tiresome,  stately  airs.  Gracious!  how 
that  woman  wearies  me,  and  Ethel  is  almost  as  bad. 
You  mark  my  words — Edward  Yanghen  will  make  his 


168  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

way  in  New  York,  and  unless  I  am  very  much  mis 
taken  the  Bromptons  will  be  glad  to  own  him  one 
of  these  days." 

"  You  and  your  '  unearned  increment'  have  played 
the  Damon  and  Pythias  act  so  long  that  I  suppose 
it  must  continue  to  the  end,"  Madge  suggested 
with  a  pleasant  smile,  for  in  her  heart  she  sided  with 
John. 

"  I  hope  so,"  John  answered,  heartily.  "  I  know 
the  *  unearned  increment,'  as  you  call  him.  He  is 
as  straight  as  a  gun  barrel,  as  true  as  steel,  as  open 
as  the  day,  and  simply  incapable  of  meanness  or 
trickery.  Now,  when  a  young,  clean,  bright  fellow 
such  as  he  is  comes  to  New  York,  to  have  people 
like  the  Bromptons  treat  him  as  they  have  done  is 
enough  to  provoke  a  saint." 

"  I  have  heard  of  St.  John,  and  even  read  some  of 
his  writings,"  Madge  quickly  replied,  "  but  to  behold 
him  in  the  flesh  was  something  for  which  I  never 
ventured  to  hope." 

"It  was  your  eyes  which  were  holden,  my  dear 
sister.  You  can  see  men  as  trees  walking,  but  when 
your  own  brother  by  his  illustrious  example  reproves 
your  frivolous  life  you  are  not  able  to  recognize  his 
saintly  wajrs." 

"  Is  it  catching,  John  ? " 

"  You  need  have  no  fears,  Madge." 

"  Have  you  had  it  for  any  length  of  time  ? " 

"  I  was  born  with  it." 

"  Strange  I  never  noticed  it  before." 

"It  is  not  in  your  line,  which  explains  your  lack 
of  recognition." 


A   DOWNTOWN    BOARDING    HOUSE.  169 

"  When  does  it  trouble  you  most  ? " 

"  When  I  am  reaching  down  to  the  level  of  your 
comprehension." 

"  What  are  you  taking  for  it  ? " 

"Qualms  of  conscience  with  grains  of  sense — a 
remedy  which  might  be  of  service  to  you." 

"  You  poor  thing,  how  you  must  have  suffered ! 
And  such  a  powerful  antidote  !  " 

"  It  would  have  killed  you,  Madge." 

"  Yes,  but  you  see  there  was  no  need  of  my  taking 
it,  John." 

With  this  Madge  turned  to  the  writing  table  to 
finish  the  letter  upon  which  she  was  engaged  when 
John  came  in  to  speak  of  Edward  Yaughen. 

In  the  matter  of  argument  Madge  quite  frequently 
had  the  advantage  in  her  encounters  with  John,  but 
in  this  particular  instance  he  secured  the  desired  in 
vitation,  which  to  him  was  the  main  thing. 

A  woman  is  usually  content  if  she  comes  off  first 
in  a  discussion ;  a  man  generally  prefers  to  gain  the 
point  which  is  under  discussion.  A  debate,  therefore, 
which  closes  with  both  parties  perfectly  satisfied  is 
eminently  pleasing,  and  when  properly  conducted 
ministers  to  the  good  of  all  concerned. 

Madge  finished  her  letter ;  John  wrote  his  ;  and  it 
was  to  John's  letter  Edward  referred  in  his  epistle  to 
Mrs.  Yaughen. 


170  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

The  Marriage  Syndicate. 

CTYIIE  complications  which  Mrs.  Disney  and  Madge 
so  clearly  foresaw,  but  which  John  distinctly 
J[  refused  to  see,  were  not  long  in  presenting 
themselves.  Edward  Vanghen  had  hardly  arrived  at 
the  Disney  home  when  Mr.  and  Miss  Keen  were 
announced,  and  on  glancing  across  the  room  Edward 
saw  the  senior  partner  of  the  firm  with  a  young  lady, 
whom  he  suspected  was  his  daughter.  He  went  on 
chatting  with  Hugh  Dunbar  as  easily  and  pleasantly 
as  before  the  Keens  came  in,  for  it  never  once  occurred 
to  him  that  there  was  anything  embarrassing  in  the 
situation.  A  moment  or  two  later,  however,  when 
the  Bromptons  came,  a  feeling  of  discomfort  presented 
itself,  for  he  had  not  seen  any  of  the  Bromptons,  ex 
cept  his  Uncle  Mark,  since  he  had  gone  tolivedown- 
town.  Mr.  Brompton  greeted  him  heartily.  Mrs. 
Brompton  evidently  did  not  expect  to  meet  him, 
still  she  did  fairly  well.  Ethel,  taking  her  cue  from 
her  mother,  was  moderately  kind,  while  Janet  was 
openly  friendly.  Percy,  a  youth  of  the  elaborate 
and  gilded  order,  who  had  just  returned  from  a 
yachting  cruise,  at  first  was  disposed  to  be  con 
descending,  but  behaved  better  as  the  evening  wore 
on.  Mr.  Keen,  knowing  that  Edward  was  Mark 
Brompton's  nephew,  was  quite  cordial  in  his  greeting, 
while  Miss  Keen,  having  no  knowledge  of  any  rela- 


THE   MARRIAGE   SYNDICATE.  l7l 

tionsliip,  accepted  him  just  as  lie  was  introduced — 
"  Mr.  Vaughen,  a  college  friend  of  my  son." 

The  pairing  arrangement  Madge  worked  out  most 
judiciously — Miss  Brompton  under  the  care  of  Hugh 
Duubar,  Janet  with  her  brother  John,  Miss  Keen  in 
charge  of  Percy  Brompton,  appropriating  Edward  to 
herself.  The  others  her  mother  disposed  of.  A 
visiting  friend  from  the  South,  Mrs.  Austin,  a  quick 
witted,  nimble-tongued  woman,  with  snappy  black 
eyes,  enabled  Mrs.  Disney  to  avoid  the  dreaded  thir 
teen  and  also  to  give  a  Joan  to  each  Darby. 

"To  have  the  pleasure  of  inviting  an  honored 
friend  and  then  deny  that  friend  an  acceptance  of 
such  invitation,"  said  Dr.  Disney,  looking  at  Mr. 
Keen,  shortly  after  the  company  had  sat  down,  "  is 
rather  an  unusual  proceeding,  but  I  trust  Mrs.  Keen 
will  forgive  me.  Still,  professional  honor  should  al 
ways  take  precedence  of  personal  friendship." 

"  Mrs.  Keen  fully  appreciates  Mrs.  Disney's  kind 
ness,"  turning  to  Mrs.  Disney,  "  and  also  Dr.  Disney's 
thoughtful  courtesy,"  was  Mr.  Keen's  fairly  graceful 
acknowledgment. 

"You  think,  then,  that  a  man's  public  duty  is  a 
stronger  obligation  than  his  private  interests  ? "  ques 
tioned  John,  who  saw  that  conversation  was  sagging, 
as  is  not  unusual  at  dinner  parties. 

"  On  general  principles  I  should  say  yes,  though, 
of  course,  there  are  exceptions,"  the  doctor  replied) 
glancing  around  the  table  as  though  he  would  like 
the  discussion  to  become  general. 

"It  seems  to  me,  though,  that  many  of  our  most 
serious  embarrassments  come  from  this  very  matter 
12 


172  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

of '  exceptions.'  If  no  exceptions  were  allowable,  the 
situation  would  be  greatly  simplified,"  said  John, 
who  had  waited  for  some  other  one  to  take  up  the 
case. 

"  But  how  dull  a  thing  you  would  make  of  life  !  " 
Hugh  Dunbar  answered ;  "  everything  on  schedule 
time  like  a  railroad,  each  train  with  a  given  number 
of  cars,  stopping  at  a  given  list  of  stations,  the  whole 
business  simply  a  mechanical  arrangement." 

"  If  your  illustration  is  to  apply  generally,  I  most 
certainly  accept  Mr.  Disney's  position,"  Mr.  Keen 
remarked.  "  To  roll  down  an  embankment,  or  crush 
through  a  bridge,  or  be  run  off  by  a  broken  rail,  may 
be  variations  in  the  monotony  of  life,  but  I  prefer  the 
common,  everyday  roadbed." 

Mr.  Keen  smiled  as  he  spoke,  and  enjoyed  some 
thing  of  that  satisfaction  which  laymen  generally 
experience  when  they  have  a  clergyman  at  a  disad 
vantage. 

"  Yes,  but  it  is  the  constant  travel  over  the  road 
that  causes  these  very  troubles,"  Mr.  Dunbar  an 
swered,  without  a  moment's  hesitation,  much  to  the 
delight  of  Madge,  for  the  laugh  which  had  not  quite 
died  away  was  decidedly  against  him,  neither  could 
she  see  just  how  he  would  escape  from  the  dilemma ; 
"  embankments  crumble,  bridges  weaken,  rails  wear 
out,  all  because  of  this  ceaseless,  monotonous  going 
and  coming." 

It  was  now  Mr.  Dunbar's  turn  to  enjoy  something 
of  the  satisfaction  which  Mr.  Keen  had  experienced. 

"Meantime  we  are  sidetracking  the  real  question," 
said  John,  "  which  is,  How  far  should  the  professional 


THE    MARRIAGE   SYNDICATE.  173 

control  the  individual  ?  Now  under  the  law  of  the 
'  excluded  middle '  a  thing  must  either  be  or  not  be  ; 
the  exceptions  suggested  by  my  illustrious  father  are 
therefore  not  admissible." 

"  Granting  that  this  position  is  the  correct  one," 
said  Edward  Vanghen,  speaking  for  the  first  time, 
"  a  doctor's  first  duty  is  to  his  patient  ? " 

To  this  there  was  general  assent. 

"A  lawyer's  first  duty  is  to  his  client  ? " 

This  also  was  agreed  to. 

"A  clergyman's  first  duty  is  to  his  parish  ?" 

This,  too,  was  accepted  without  question. 

"  Then  an  employer's  first  duty  is  to  his  employees ? " 
was  Edward's  next  question,  a  question  to  which 
there  was  no  immediate  reply,  but  which  lay  like  an 
unexploded  shell  with  a  slowly  burning  fuse  attached 
— an  ugly,  dangerous  thing,  full  of  unpleasant  possi 
bilities. 

"  There  is  this  difference,"  said  Mark  Brompton, 
after  allowing  the  fuse  to  smoke  itself  close  to  the 
shell :  "  the  parish  employs  the  clergyman,  the  client 
employs  the  lawyer,  the  patient  employs  the  phy 
sician  ;  this '  first  duty,'  therefore,  of  which  you  speak 
is  simply  in  each  case  an  honest  return  for  a  fair 
equivalent;  whereas  it  is  just  the  other  way  with  re 
gard  to  employers  and  employed.  Using  these  same 
illustrations,  we  can  all  see  that  the  first  duty  of  the 
employee  is  to  the  one  who  employs  him." 

By  this  time  Edward's  shell,  which  had  seemed  so 
dangerous,  was  seen  to  be  only  a  papier-mache  sham, 
and  the  fuse  had  burned  itself  out. 

"  Very  true,"  said  Hugh  Dunbar,  coming  to  the 


174  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

relief  of  Edward  Vaughen ;  "  but  just  as  the  parish 
needs  the  clergyman,  the  client  the  lawyer,  the  patient 
the  physicia'n,  so  the  master  needs  the  man.  The 
question  is  more  than  wages  and  work ;  it  is  rather 
one  of  mutual  obligation." 

Mark  Brompton  made  no  reply  other  than  that 
conveyed  by  an  incredulous  smile ;  but  Mrs.  Austin, 
who  had  closely  followed  the  discussion,  broke  in 
with : 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  we  are  forgetting  the  very 
plan  upon  which  society  was  founded.  What  about 
hewers  of  wood,  drawers  of  water,  the  one  serving, 
the  other  served  ?  Even  the  patriarchs  had  servants 
and  slaves." 

"I  most  cordially  agree  with  you,"  said  Mrs. 
Brompton,  looking  across  the  table  at  Mrs.  Austin. 
"  The  woes  and  wrongs  of  the  poor  have  become  ex 
ceedingly  tiresome.  If  our  workmen  are  not  content 
with  their  wages,  let  them  go  somewhere  else;  if 
they  are  not  pleased  with  their  employers,  let  them 
find  others.  My  own  opinion,  however,  is  that  much 
of  the  agitation  is  caused  by  meddlesome  reformers, 
who  had  better  be  minding  their  own  business." 

"  Thanks  to  agitation  of  one  kind  and  another,  the 
time  has  now  come  when  a  man  must  send  for  a 
walking  delegate  or  a  committee  of  some  brother 
hood  and  say,  'Please,  sir,  may  I  build  a  mill?' 
'  Please,  gentlemen,  may  I  start  a  foundry  ? '  '  Kindly 
give  me  permission  to  put  a  ship  on  the  stocks.' 
Before  a  person  may  venture  to  repair  his  house  or 
put  a  new  stove  in  his  kitchen  the  consent  of  certain 
organizations  has  to  be  obtained.  Talk  about  the 


175 

'  tyranny  of  capital ! '  It  is  not  to  be  compared  with 
the  tyranny  of  labor."  Mr.  Keen  spoke  with  some 
irritation,  though  this  was  not  to  be  wondered  at,  for 
complications  in  the  labor  market  had  affected  him 
quite  seriously  in  some  business  matters. 

"  For  my  part,"  said  Mr.  Brompton,  speaking  in  a 
very  positive  way,  "  I  never  permit  dictation  from 
outside  parties  in  matters  that  concern  my  business. 
I  pay  my  men  what  I  please.  I  dismiss  them  at  my 
pleasure.  It  is  my  money  that  they  earn,  and  they 
must  earn  it  in  my  way  or  not  at  all.  No  man  need 
work  for  me  unless  it  suits  him ;  no  man  shall  work 
for  me  unless  it  suits  me.  These  worthless  schemers 
who  agitate  strikes  and  cause  trouble  should  be  sum 
marily  dealt  with.  They  are  more  dangerous  to  the 
community  than  thieves  or  firebugs." 

"  I  am  right  glad  to  hear  you  say  so,"  Mrs. 
Austin  eagerly  said,  her  snappy  black  eyes  full  of 
Southern  fire.  "  What  do  such  men  know  of  your 
business  or  of  any  business?  And  yet  they  order 
strikes  ;  they  persuade  men  to  give  up  their  places  ; 
they  disturb  the  public  peace,  and  all  the  while  enrich 
themselves  at  the  expense  of  the  very  ones  whom 
they  pretend  to  help.  I  know  you  Northerners 
fought  for  '  freedom,'  as  you  call  it,  but  it  seems  now 
as  if  the  hod  man  and  the  knight  of  the  shovel  had 
the  upper  hand." 

Mrs.  Austin  was  "  reconstructed "  only  in  part. 
Her  father  had  been  an  officer  in  the  Confederate 
army,  and  was  killed  at  Gettysburg.  The  proclama 
tion  of  Lincoln  had  emancipated  their  slaves,  leaving 
their  plantations  deserted  and  useless.  Though  only 


176  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 

a  girl,  she  remembered  that  terrible  time  ;  there  was, 
therefore,  more  than  a  tinge  of  bitterness  in  her  voice 
when  she  spoke  of  "  Northerners  "  and  "  freedom." 

Madge  saw  by  a  certain  light  in  Edward  Yaughen's 
eyes,  together  with  an  eager  expression  on  his  face, 
that  he  was  about  to  reply,  so  the  instant  Mrs.  Austin 
had  finished  she  put  a  quiet  question  to  him  which 
took  his  attention  for  the  time.  Janet,  with  equal 
adroitness,  engaged  the  battalions  of  Hugh  Dunbar's 
speech,  holding  them  effectually  in  check.  The  two 
dangerous  ones  were  thus  disposed  of,  leaving  Mrs. 
Austin  in  possession  of  the  verbal  heights. 

Telegraphic  signals  having  been  exchanged,  Mrs. 
Disney  made  that  mysterious  motion  which  is  so  well 
understood,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  party  had  ex 
changed  the  dining  room  for  the  parlors. 

When  Dr.  Disney  suggested  that  in  view  of  Mrs. 
Keen's  very  delicate  health  the  utmost  carefulness 
was  necessary,  and  then  pleasantly  proposed  that  she 
send  a  substitute  in  the  person  of  her  daughter,  he 
was  speaking  one  word  for  Mrs.  Keen  and  two  for 
himself.  Dr.  Disney  had  his  own  reasons  for  hoping 
that  in  the  near  future  John  would  see  that  Miss 
Keen  was  a  very  attractive  young  lady,  whose  fortune 
and  connections  were  both  highly  desirable. 

When  Mr.  Keen  accepted  Dr.  Disney's  kindly  sug 
gestion  he  also  was  speaking  one  word  for  Mrs.  Keen 
and  two  for  himself.  His  hope,  however,  was  not  in 
John  Disney,  but  in  Percy  Brompton,  for  he  had  his 
own  reasons  for  desiring  an  alliance  with  the  Bromp 
ton  household. 

We  have  all  heard  of  matchmaking  mothers,  who 


THE    MARRIAGE   SYNDICATE.  177 

in  the  most  adroit  way  get  their  daughters  "  listed  " 
on  the  matrimonial  exchange,  and  then  form  a 
little  syndicate  of  cousins  and  aunts  to  manage  the 
market  as  Wall  Street  never  dreams  of.  Dick 
Yerdant,  a  good,  simple-hearted  fellow,  had  hardly 
been  fairly  introduced  to  Miss  Pausay  before  he  was 
taken  possession  of  by  the  Pausay  combine,  and  what 
with  "  dear,  sweet  girl,"  "  so  kind  and  devoted,"  "  a 
perfect  treasure,"  "  worth  her  weight  in  gold,"  fol 
lowed  up  with  urgent  invitations  to  all  sort  of  func 
tions  at  the  homes  of  certain  members  of  the  "  com 
bine,"  Dick  was  bewildered,  nor  could  he  recover 
himself  before  he  was  being  received  as  the  accepted 
suitor  of  Miss  Pausay. 

But  she  made  him  a  capital  wife,  and  he  was  much 
better  off  than  if  he  had  married  some  Dresden  shep 
herdess,  with  staring  blue  eyes  and  a  lot  of  fluffy 
flaxen  hair. 

What  delicate  management  was  required  with  the 
rector  of  St.  Veronica's !  The  dear  man  was  tall, 
gaunt,  ascetic,  with  his  head  among  the  stars,  and 
hardly  a  thought  for  the  common  things  of  earth. 

But  Mrs.  Wiseman  had  a  daughter,  in  whose  gentle 
bosom  there  throbbed  more  hopes  than  probabilities. 
Miss  Wiseman  was  famous  for  her  skill  in  working 
altar  cloths.  She  had  a  genius  for  Dorcas  meetings. 
Her  fame  as  a  zealous  leader  in  church  activities  had 
gone  abroad.  When  the  right  time  came  Mrs.  Wise 
man  formed  a  little  syndicate  ;  St.  Veronica's  became 
the  center  of  attraction  ;  the  congregations  increased  ; 
broader  plans  of  church  work  were  devised  ;  Miss 
Wiseman  had  frequent  consultations  with  the  rector, 


178  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

so  to-day  she  is  the  rectoress,  and  Mrs.  Wiseman  has 
not  lived  in  vain. 

Lord  Piccadilly  had  hardly  come  down  the  gang 
way  before  he  was  in  a  network  against  which  nothing 
availed.  He  was  deluged  with  cards  for  everything 
in  town  and  out  of  town.  He  had  calls  and  callers 
at  all  times  and  seasons.  The  hospitalities  that  were 
crowded  upon  him — rides  in  the  park,  dinners  at 
Tuxedo,  trips  to  Newport,  moonlight  sails  up  the 
river,  boxes  at  the  opera,  attentions  of  every  im 
aginable  description — were  more  than  he  could  num 
ber.  He  wrote  to  his  father,  the  Earl  of  Cheapside : 
"These  Americans  are  the  most  hospitable  people 
I  ever  met.  Their  kindness  is  really  wonderful." 

He  was  not  then  aware  that  he  was  in  the  hands 
of  the  Shrewdly  syndicate,  whose  one  purpose  was  to 
have  a  daughter  marry  into  the  English  nobility. 

Miss  Shrewdly  is  now  the  Countess  of  Cheapside, 
her  husband's  noble  father  having  quite  recently  de 
parted  this  life  in  that  full  odor  of  sanctity  which  is 
the  special  privilege  of  the  highly  born. 

She  carried  a  bagful  of  American  securities  to  her 
British  home,  by  which  the  Cheapside  estates  and 
baronial  halls  were  taken  out  of  pawn,  but  she  left 
behind  her  a  man's  broken,  shadowed  life,  and  mem 
ories  from  which  her  heart  would  never  be  free. 
Still,  she  is  a  countess,  is  addressed  as  "  my  lady," 
visits  at  Marlborough  House — enough,  surely,  to 
satisfy  the  pride  of  any  woman. 

It  was  a  pity  that  Dr.  Disney  and  Mr.  Keen  should 
differ  so  widely  in  their  plans.  The  one  thought  of 
his  son,  the  other  thought  of  his  daughter,  but  in 


THE   MARRIAGE   SYNDICATE.  179 

reality  each  man  was  thinking  of  himself.  In  his 
way  Dr.  Disney  had  quite  an  affection  for  John,  just 
as  Mr.  Keen  had  for  Rhea,  but  often  these  affections 
of  ours  are  only  envelopes  in  which  much  of  down 
right  selfishness  is  inclosed. 

Mrs.  Shrewdly  wrould  have  been  indignant  if  any 
one  had  charged  her  with  selfishness,  but  she  was 
selfish — cruelly, heartlessly  selfish — and  to  gratify  that 
selfishness  she  sacrificed  her  daughter's  happiness, 
and  was  guilty  of  soul  murder. 

"  Rather  a  pleasant  young  man  Mr.  Yaughen  is," 
said  Miss  Keen  to  Madge  Disney,  as  they  chatted 
together  after  the  party  had  returned  to  the  parlors. 

"  Very,"  Madge  answered,  for  though  she  had  a 
way  of  speaking  of  him  to  John  as  the  "  unearned  in 
crement,"  and  was  disposed  to  regard  him  as  somewhat 
visionary,  still  there  was  no  denying  the  fact  that  he 
was  a  most  agreeable  young  fellow. 

"You  have  known  him  some  time?"  was  the  very 
natural  question,  and  the  one  next  in  order. 

"  He  was  in  college  with  my  brother.  They  are 
classmates.  He  spent  part  of  the  vacation  with  us 
one  year." 

"  Of  what  family  is  he  ? "  came  next. 

Madge  was  fully  aware  that  the  ice  here  was  thin 
and  the  skating  dangerous. 

"I  really  don't  know,"  which  was  literally  true. 
"  I  think  he  is  an  only  son.  His  mother  lives  in 
Eastwich,  a  little  place  somewhere  down  East." 

"  He  seems  intimate  with  the  Bromptons." 

The  ice  was  not  quite  so  thin  here.  Madge  could 
skate,  therefore,  in  comparative  comfort. 


180  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

"  Yes ;  lie  is  Mr  Brompton's  nephew.  His  mother 
and  Mr.  Brompton  are  brother  and  sister." 

"  O !  "  not  very  loud,  but  significant. 

Then,  as  things  will,  changes  took  place  in  the 
groupings,  so  that  in  due  time  Edward  found  himself 
talking  with  Miss  Keen,  evidently  finding  something 
of  interest  to  talk  of,  for  they  remained  together  for 
nearly  the  rest  of  the  evening. 

Dr.  Disney  was  too  courteous  to  show  any  disap 
pointment,  yet  he  found  himself  wishing  that  John 
was  in  Edward's  place,  chatting  so  easily  and  pleas 
antly  with  Miss  Keen.  Mr.  Keen  was  too  much  a 
man  of  the  world  to  betray  the  least  annoyance,  still 
at  heart  he  was  angry  with  Mark  Brompton's  nephe\v 
for  taking  the  place  which  he  had  intended  for  Mark 
Brompton's  son. 

As  for  John  and  Percy,  all  unconscious  of  the 
plans  which  were  in  the  minds  of  the  two  match 
makers,  they  were  discussing  the  possibilities  of  a 
yacht  race,  the  one  yacht  with  a  hull  of  aluminum, 
the  other  one  of  celluloid. 

"  Who  is  the  Mr.  Vaughen  we  met  at  dinner  ?  " 
said  Miss  Keen  to  her  father,  in  the  carriage  on  their 
way  home. 

"  A  clerk  in  my  office,"  was  the  angry  reply.  Mr. 
Keen  was  thoroughly  angry — angry  with  the  Dis- 
neys  for  having  invited  Vanghen,  but  more  angry 
with  his  daughter  for  wasting  the  evening  as  she 
did. 

"  I  understood  Miss  Disney  to  say  that  he  was  Mr. 
Brompton's  nephew,"  said  Miss  Keen,  very  much 
surprised  at  her  father's  reply. 


THE    MARRIAGE   SYNDICATE.  181 

"  So  he  is  ;  but  lie  is  a  common  clerk  in  my  office, 
not  much  better  than  an  office  boy,  and  poor  as  a 
church  mouse." 

"  O  !  "  responded  Khea,  but  not  in  the  same  tone 
as  earlier  in  the  evening. 

Nothing  more  was  said  and  very  soon  the  carriage 
drew  up  at  their  door. 


/82  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

Wee  Jamie. 

iUT  we  must  not  forget  Hugh  Dunbar  nor  the 
work  to  which  lie  had  given  himself — a  work 
which  he  was  finding  exceedingly  difficult 
and  complicated.  Though  he  was  young,  strong, 
eager  for  experiments,  and  still  more  eager  for  re 
sults,  yet  already  he  had  discovered  that  neither 
"fashionable  slumming"  nor  spasmodic  charity  was 
of  the  least  avail. 

The  fashionable  slummer  lie  regarded  as  a  vain, 
silly  person,  whose  motives  were  chiefly  sentimental, 
and  who  usually  did  far  more  harm  than  good. 
Spectacular  charity  excited  his  utter  abhorrence,  for 
it  only  mocked  the  awful  misery  which  it  failed  to 
alleviate. 

In  his  parish  were  multitudes  of  people — thou 
sands  upon  thousands — whose  condition  was  not  so 
much  that  of  poverty  as  of  dense,  terrible  ignorance, 
in  many  cases  reaching  to  semi-barbarism.  That  a 
large  proportion  of  these  people  were  aliens,  of  for 
eign  language,  with  habits  peculiar  to  themselves, 
entirely  unfamiliar  with  American  life,  in  no  wise 
lessened  his  sense  of  responsibility,  but  rather  added 
to  it. 

Many  of  these  people — it  might  hardly  be  fair  to  say 
most  of  them — but  very  many  of  them  had  thrown 
aside  almost  everything  by  way  of  religious  tradi- 


WEE  JAMIE,  183 

tion,  and  despite  earnest  efforts  refused  to  have  any 
thing  to  do  with  churches  or  church  people. 

When  Sunday  came,  and  the  season  would  admit 
of  it,  many  went  to  the  beaches,  to  the  common  sum 
mer  resorts,  of  which  there  are  scores  within  an 
hour's  ride  from  the  city,  and  to  places  of  public  enter 
tainment.  Others  were  not  able  to  afford  these  lux 
uries,  but  had  to  content  themselves  with  such  inex 
pensive  enjoyments  as  Central  Park  could  give.  In 
the  evening  the  beer  gardens  along  the  river  front 
filled  up  with  their  usual  crowd,  who  patronized  the 
swings,  the  dance  rooms,  contriving  in  various  ways 
to  put  in  the  time  till  about  midnight.  Sunday  had 
no  religions  significance  whatever.  It  was  simply  a 
holiday,  just  a  day  in  which  they  were  not  compelled 
to  work,  though  for  that  matter  Hugh  Dunbar  found 
that  hundreds  of  them  plied  the  needle  or  ran  the 
sewing  machine  on  Sundays  the  same  as  on  other  days. 

At  an  early  age  the  children  were  taken  from  the 
day  schools — many  of  them  were  never  sent  at  all — 
for  such  money  as  they  could  earn  was  needed  to 
support  the  home.  They  drifted  into  factories  of 
one  kind  and  another,  of  which  there  are  hundreds 
in  New  York.  They  were  crowded  into  workrooms 
of  innumerable  varieties,  some  so  filthy,  so  foul,  so 
illy  ventilated,  as  to  be  little  better  than  pesthouses. 

They  took  whatever  employment  was  offered,  com 
ing  into  contact  mostly  with  those  of  their  own  class, 
only,  of  course,  more  hardened,  as  well  as  more 
familiar  with  the  coarse  vulgarities  of  life. 

When  the  day's  work  was  over  there  was  nothing 
for  them  but  return  to  the  crowded  tenement, 


184  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

which  in  the  summer  was  stifling,  compelling  many 
of  them  to  remain  out  of  doors  all  night  rather  than 
suffer  the  awful  heat  of  their  rooms. 

Not  infrequently  the  small  "flat,"  or  even  "side" 
of  a  flat,  would  be  divided  with  another  tenant,  so 
that  a  score  of  families  would  sometimes  be  occupy 
ing  a  building  not  much  wider  and  only  a  story  or 
two  higher  than  an  ordinary  house ! 

The  walls  were  usually  so  thin  that  the  common 
conversation  of  the  people  across  the  hall  could  be 
heard  easily,  nor  was  this  conversation  always  such  as 
one  wished  to  hear.  At  night  the  hallways  and  nar 
row  passages  were  dark,  so  that  going  up  or  down 
stairs  was  attended  with  considerable  annoyance,  if 
not  danger. 

As  Hugh  Dunbar  went  through  this  parish  of  his 
lie  wondered  if  such  a  city  as  New  York  was  doing 
all  that  it  might  do  for  these  people.  Speaking  to 
John  Disney,  he  said  : 

"  "When  the  city  puts  a  light  on  the  street  comer, 
stations  a  policeman  with  a  club,  arranges  for  the 
visits  of  a  garbage  man,  has  it  done  its  whole  duty  in 
this  matter  ? " 

"  Ask  me  not  in  sadful  poetry.  I  am  no  alderman 
with  a  pocketful  of  franchises,  listening  eagerly  for 
the  voice  of  some  street  car  company." 

At  heart  John  Disney  was  just  as  serious  as  Hugh 
Dunbar,  but  he  did  not  show  it  in  the  same  way. 

"  A  grave  problem  is  this  of  municipal  govern 
ment — one  that  must  be  solved,  or  trouble  will  come 
to  us,"  Dunbar  answered,  putting  aside  John's  pleas 
antry. 


WEE   JAMIE.  185 

"  A  grave  problem  it  is ;  we  are  always  burying 
something  or  other.  One  time  it  is  wires,  another 
time  it  is  gas  pipes,  another  time  it  is  water  mains, 
and  no  sooner  have  we  fairly  buried  them  than  we 
dig  the  poor  things  up  again." 

Dunbar  looked  at  John  half  reprovingly,  but  John 
went  right  on  : 

"The  graves  we  dig  in  the  streets  of  New  York 
are  long  enough,  deep  enough,  broad  enough,  to 
bury  everything  and  everybody  four  times  a  year. 
You  are  right,  Dunbar ;  municipal  government  is  a 
grave  problem." 

"  And  to  these  thousands  we  have  given  the  bal 
lot,  men  who  are  utterly  incapable  of  an  intelligent 
vote,"  Dunbar  replied,  as  seriously  as  he  could,  for 
John's  humor  was  not  without  its  effects. 

"  And  also  the  box,"  added  John.  "  These  friends 
of  yours  are  not  satisfied  with  the  ballot,  but  take  the 
box  as  well,  stuffing  it  to  their  hearts'  desire.  No 
wonder  some  wards  roll  up  such  big  majorities." 

Hugh  Dunbar  was  proud  of  his  native  city.  Its 
magnificent  enterprise,  its  commercial  supremacy, 
its  genius  for  vast  undertakings,  the  ease  with  which 
it  accepted  the  heaviest  responsibilities,  the  earnest 
ness  of  its  life,  the  power  which  it  exerted  all  over 
the  nation,  the  broad,  generous  way  in  which  it  re 
sponded  to  every  appeal,  together  with  its  manifest 
desire  to  be  worthy  of  its  high  rank  among  the  great 
cities  of  the  world,  produced  in  the  mind  of  Dunbar 
a  feeling  such  as  Dante  felt  for  Florence,  or  the 
ancient  Hebrews  for  Jerusalem. 

But  the  first  six  months  of  earnest  work  in  his 


186  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

new  parish  brought  him  face  to  face  with  conditions 
against  which  he  dare  not  close  his  eyes,  for  he  saw 
possibilities  of  danger  on  almost  every  side. 

It  was  well  for  him  that  he  had  the  help  and  in 
spiration  of  Sister  Nora  at  this  time,  for  often  he  was 
almost  discouraged  at  the  vastness  of  the  work  upon 
which  he  had  entered. 

"Jamie  Smithers  is  very  sick,"  she  said  to  him  one 
morning,  when  with  Mr.  Sterling  and  some  members 
of  the  sisterhood  connected  with  the  church  they 
were  planning  the  work  for  the  day. 

They  were  all  interested  in  Jamie,  who  was  a  dear, 
wee  chap,  growing  up  as  a  flower  in  a  wilderness  of 
sand.  When  about  five  years  of  age  one  day  while 
playing  on  the  street  he  was  knocked  down  and  run 
over  by  a  brewer's  wagon,  just  escaping  with  his  life. 
He  was  taken  to  the  hospital,  where  one  of  his  legs 
was  amputated,  and,  though  he  had  the  use  of  the 
other  one,  it  was  so  bent  and  weakened  as  to  be 
almost  valueless.  If  Jamie  had  been  the  son  of  a 
rich  man,  who  could  have  paid  lawyers'  fees  and  se 
cured  witnesses,  the  brewer  would  probably  have 
been  held  responsible  for  the  reckless  driving  of  his 
drayman,  but  at  the  trial  it  was  made  out  somehow 
that  the  boy  had  tried  to  run  across  the  street  almost 
under  the  horses'  feet,  and  that  the  driver  could  not 
possibly  have  prevented  the  accident.  The  fact  that 
most  of  those  who  gave  testimony  had  been  visited 
by  the  brewer's  agent,  while  others  of  them  were  in 
the  employment  of  the  brewer,  evidently  did  not 
affect  the  jury,  for  the  case  was  dismissed.  The 
brewer,  however,  was  not  utterly  heartless,  for  when 


WEE  JAMIE.  187 

Jamie  came  home  from  the  hospital  he  sent  him  the 
price  of  a  handsome  pair  of  crutches !  Of  course  the 
boy  was  deprived  of  the  enjoyments  and  pursuits  of 
the  other  children  of  his  class,  and  his  pale,  sad  face, 
as  he  sat  at  the  window  looking  out  upon  the  street 
watching  the  boys  and  girls  playing  about  in  heed 
less  glee,  was  most  pathetic.  Neither  could  he  at 
tend  the  public  school,  for  the  school  was  some 
blocks  distant,  and  he  could  not  walk  so  far. 

But  Jamie  did  not  give  up  in  despair.  No  sooner 
did  his  little  sister  Effie  begin  to  learn  her  letters 
than  he  had  her  teach  him.  By  degrees  he  took 
on  spelling,  then  writing  with  the  help  of  slate  and 
pencil,  then  something  of  arithmetic,  so  that  he  not 
only  kept  up  with  Effie,  but  even  went  ahead  of  his 
brother  Bob.  His  father  being  a  carpenter,  a  first- 
class  one,  Jamie  carne  naturally  by  a  desire  to  work 
with  tools,  nor  was  it  long  before  his  chair  at  the 
window  was  exchanged  for  a  seat  at  a  bench  which 
Mr.  Smithershad  put  up  for  him.  Here  Jamie  made 
all  manner  of  things — salad  sets,  paper  knives,  nap 
kin  rings,  and  as  he  grew  older  he  ventured  on  more 
ambitious  work.  At  first  his  father  only  humored 
him  in  this  carving  pastime,  thinking  it  would  help 
the  poor  boy  to  get  through  the  day.  He  soon  found, 
however,  that  there  was  genuine  merit  in  Jamie's 
work,  so  he  cast  about  for  some  way  to  dispose  of  it. 
Not  far  from  where  the  Smith ers  lived,  just  down 
the  avenue  a  little  way,  there  \vas  a  curio  store  whose 
proprietor  handled  all  sorts  of  wares,  particularly  rare 
old  carvings,  Flemish  and  Swiss. 

Jamie's  work  went  in  here,  coming  out  again  in  a 
13 


188  DWELLERS  IN  GOTHAM. 

few  weeks  with  the  marks  of  centuries  upon  it! 
Many  a  dear  man  proudly  exhibited  to  his  admiring 
family  a  bit  of  "  genuine  Flemish  "  which  he  had 
picked  up  in  this  curio  store  for  a  mere  song. 

But  Jamie  knew  nothing  of  this,  neither  did  his 
father.  The  curio  man,  who  was  shrewd  enough  to 
keep  his  own  counsel,  was  the  only  one  in  the  secret. 

For  a  time  things  went  on  pleasantly  in  the  Smithers 
household,  for  Silas  Smithers,  being  a  good  work 
man,  had  steady  employment  in  a  shop  not  far  from 
where  he  lived. 

But  his  employer  (there  was  only  one,  Mr.  Wood 
having  succeeded  to  the  business,  but  keeping  the  old 
firm  name)  was  not  content  with  the  way  things  were 
going,  so  he  branched  out  quite  extensively.  He  en 
tered  into  some  heavy  building  operations  in  Harlem 
and  on  the  "West  Side,  but  all  at  once  business  be 
came  unsettled,  money  could  not  be  had  to  meet  his 
obligations,  so  that  eventually  the  firm  of  Wood  & 
Stone  was  forced  to  suspend. 

Silas  Smithers  was  very  sorry  at  the  misfortune 
which  had  overtaken  Mr.  Wood,  for  he  had  been  a 
kind,  considerate  employer;  still  there  were  other 
shops  in  New  York  where  he  would  find  work  to  his 
hand.  But  when  he  started  out  he  learned  that 
many  other  of  the  building  firms  were  in  the  same 
plight  as  Wood  &  Stone.  Steady  work  was  nowhere 
to  be  had.  He  tramped  mile  after  mile,  inquiring 
everywhere,  but  to  no  purpose.  Things  began  to 
look  serious.  Shops  in  which  two  or  three  hundred 
men  were  wont  to  work  stood  idle.  Then  Silas  was 
glad  to  get  short  jobs,  working  a  few  days  now  and 


WEE   JAMIE.  189 

then.  Mrs.  Smitliers  made  the  very  most  out  of 
what  he  earned,  but  when  five  people  are  to  be  fed, 
and  the  wages  of  the  breadwinner  cut  down  more 
than  half,  to  keep  actual  hunger  away  was  almost  im 
possible.  Then  it  was  that  Jamie  came  to  the  fore. 
Like  a  little  man  he  worked  so  as  to  make  up,  in 
part,  the  shortage  in  the  family  income.  Hardly 
would  he  have  finished  his  breakfast  before  he  was 
at  his  bench,  where  he  remained  tjie  whole  day.  His 
work  was  so  fine  and  delicate,  involving  the  play  of 
long,  slender  fingers,  that  his  father  could  not  help  him 
very  much.  But  he  carved  and  rasped,  he  filed  and 
polished  just  as  merrily  as  ever.  Poor  little  fellow ! 
Sometimes  when  he  went  to  bed  he  couldn't  sleep, 
he  was  so  tired,  and  there  were  pains  in  his  back 
and  chest  which  distressed  him  greatly.  Once  in  a 
while  he  would  get  on  his  mother's  knee,  just  as  he 
used  to  do  when  he  was  younger.  She  would  gather 
him  up  in  her  arms,  sing  to  him,  croon  to  him,  talk 
to  him  out  of  her  mother  heart,  then  he  would  hob 
ble  over  to  his  bench  and  take  up  his  work  again. 
He  never  said  anything  about  the  pains  in  his  chest, 
or  the  hours  that  he  lay  awake  in  the  night.  His 
face,  always  pale,  grew  whiter  and  thinner,  but  he 
smiled  just  as  bravely  as  ever,  hiding  even  from  his 
mother  every  sign  of  weakness.  "When  he  heard  his 
father  coming  up  the  stairs  he  would  begin  to  whistle 
some  little  air  which  he  had  learned  from  Effie  or 
Rob,  just  as  though  he  would  greet  with  boyish  glad 
ness  the  weary,  discouraged  man. 

Sister  Nora  accidentally  (Sister  Nora's  "  accident 
ally"  might  be  changed  to  intentionally  in   many 


190  DWELLERS   IN  GOTHAM. 

cases)  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  Smithers  family, 
and  it  was  not  long  before  her  visits  were  times  of 
great  joy  to  little  Jamie.  She  took  a  deep  interest  in 
his  carvings,  disposing  of  many  of  them  at  much 
higher  prices  than  the  curio  man  was  willing  to  pay. 
This  she  explained  by  saying  that  her  friends  made 
their  purchases  through  her,  thus  saving  the  usual 
charges  of  the  dealer. 

At  the  right  time  she  mentioned  Mr.  Dunbar,  with 
the  hope  that  he  might  be  permitted  to  come  in  some 
day  and  see  Jamie  at  work. 

When  Mr.  Dunbar  came  Mrs.  Smithers  was  nerv 
ous  and  embarrassed,  but  Hugh  soon  made  himself 
so  much  at  home  that  the  good  woman  got  over  all 
her  fears.  He  talked  with  Jamie  about  the  different 
kinds  of  wood  upon  which  he  was  working.  He  went 
over  to  the  bench  and  examined  the  various  tools 
that  he  used.  He  got  Jamie  to  explain  how  certain 
carvings  were  made,  and,  all  told,  spent  nearly  an 
hour,  talking  mostly  with  the  boy,  who  was  delighted 
with  him. 

"  It  is  very  kind  of  you,  sir,  to  come  an'  see  my 
poor  boy,"  said  Mrs.  Smithers,  as  she  held  the  little 
lamp  over  the  stairway,  so  that  Mr.  Dunbar  might 
have  the  light  on  his  way  down. 

Mr.  Dunbar  stood  for  a  few  moments  on  the  land 
ing,  for  he  saw  that  Mrs.  Smithers  had  something 
more  to  say. 

"  I  hope,  sir,  it  is  not  askin'  too  much  if  sometime 
you  might  call  again." 

Mr.  Dunbar  promised  to  do  so,  also  expressing  the 
pleasure  which  his  visit  had  given  him. 


WEE   JAMIE.  191 

"  We  ain't  much  on  goin'  to  church  that  I  know, 
an'  still  my  husband  an'  me  wants  to  do  what  is  right." 

With  this  they  parted,  Mrs.  Smithers  holding  the 
lamp,  while  Mr.  Dunbar  cautiously  made  his  way 
down  the  flights  of  stairs. 

"  The  nicest-spoken  gentleman  I've  ever  met,"  she 
said  to  Silas,  when  he  came  home  that  evening.  "An' 
he  talked  to  Jamie  just  as  if  he  knew  all  about 
carvin',  an'  he  knows  of  a  man  who  wants  half  a 
dozen  of  them  Swiss  frames." 

"  One  of  them  minister  chaps  ? "  questioned  Silas, 
but  not  unkindly. 

"  Yes,  but  he's  got  no  minister  manners  like  as  ye 
hear  of.  He's  just  plain  an'  sensible,  like  common 
folks.  He  talked  about  you  an'  what  you  worked  at, 
an'  s'posed  times  was  dull.  He  invited  Effie  an' 
Rob  to  go  sometime  to  the  Mission,  an'  shook  hands 
with  me  an'  Jamie  when  he  went  out." 

All  the  time  Mrs.  Smithers  was  talking  she  was 
busy  setting  the  table,  lifting  lids  from  sundry  pots 
that  were  on,  the  kitchen  stove,  and  preparing  gen 
erally  for  the  evening  meal. 

"He's  going  to  bring  me  some  models  which  he 
wants  copied,"  added  Jamie,  whose  pale  cheeks  were 
flushed  with  the  excitement  of  Mr.  Dunbar's  visit. 

Silas  Smithers  said  nothing,  but  went  over  to  the 
"  sink,"  where  he  washed  his  hard,  rough  hands  ;  then 
splashed  some  water  on  his  foce,  which  he  wiped  and 
dried  ;  then  he  combed  out  his  dusty,  matted  hair 
before  the  little  mirror,  which  hung  on  the  side  of 
the  sink  next  the  window.  By  this  time  Mrs.  Smith 
ers  was  ready  to  dish  out  the  supper. 


192  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

After  supper  lie  lighted  his  pipe,  a  cheap  brier, 
with  a  supposedly  amber  tip,  which  Mrs.  Smithers 
had  once  given  him  for  a  Christinas  present.  The 
amber  tip  was  gone ;  the  bowl  was  considerably 
charred  all  around  the  top,  but,  withal,  that  was  his 
favorite  pipe.  The  fact  that  "Mollie,"  as  he  called 
her,  gave  him  that  pipe  may  have  had  something  to 
do  with  his  regard  for  it. 

The  pipe  was  smoked  half  way  before  he  said  any 
thing  in  reply  to  what  he  had  heard  about  Ilngh 
Dun  bar. 

"An'  so  you  liked  the  minister,"  he  said,  looking 
at  Jamie,  who  was  finishing  "one  of  them  Swiss 
frames." 

"You'd  like  him,"  answered  Jamie.  "One  sure 
thing,  he  knows  about  carvin'." 

"Ministers  an'  me  don't  see  much  of  one  another. 
I  lets  them  go  their  way,  and  they  mostly  lets  me  go 
mine;"  and  Silas  gave  an  extra  tug  or  two  at  his  pipe, 
which  was  threatening  to  go  out. 

"Well,  you'd  like  this  minister,"  Jamie  said,  with 
confidence,  holding  out  the  Swiss  frame  and  looking 
it  over  critically. 

"  You  think  so,  my  son  ?  Then  I  must  try  an'  be 
here  next  time  he  comes." 

With  this  Silas  emptied  the  ashes  out  of  his  pipe, 
tapped  it  on  his  boot  heel,  and  laid  it  down  on  the 
mantelpiece.  Then  he  went  out  to  see  the  secretary 
of  his  "  union  "  about  a  special  meeting  which  was 
palled  for  the  following  Sunday  afternoon. 


A  TRADES  UNION    MEETING.  193 


CHAPTEE  XXII. 
A   Trades    Union    Meeting. 

OU  think  nothing  can  be  done  for  the 
Smithers  people  just  now?"  Hugh  Duu- 
bar  asked  Mr.  Sterling  one  morning,  as 
they  were  talking  the  matter  over.  "  That  boy  ap 
peals  to  me  most  strongly,  but  I  am  afraid  to  sug 
gest  his  going  away,  for  now  that  Smithers  is  out  of 
work  Jamie  is  needed  at  home." 

"That  is  just  where  the  trouble  is,"  replied  Mr. 
Sterling.  "  They  cannot  afford  to  send  him  any 
where,  and  if  we  should  undertake  to  do  it  Silas 
Smithers  is  so  proud  and  high-spirited  that  he  would 
resent  it." 

"  What  a  pity  that  people  have  such  foolish  no 
tions  about  receiving  help !  When  a  man  is  down 
why  can't  he  let  some  one  give  him  a  lift." 

Mr.  Dunbar  had  a  perplexed,  anxious  look,  for  he 
was  troubled  about  these  Smithers  people. 

"  You  never  were  down,  Dunbar,  so  you  can't  tell 
how  it  feels.  Besides,  a  great  deal  depends  on  how 
the  help  is  offered.  Let  me  tell  you  that  the  real 
honest,  deserving  poor  are  the  very  last  to  accept 
charity — at  least  such  charity  as  is  generally  at 
tempted.  You  go,  for  instance,  to  the  dispensaries. 
Inquire  of  the  doctors  and  those  in  charge,  and  they 
will  tell  you  that  most  of  those  who  come  there  for 
treatment  do  it  to  avoid  the  expense  of  medical  serv- 


194  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

ice,  for  which  they  are  abundantly  able  to  pay.  The 
same  is  true  of  about  everything  else." 

Mr.  Dunbar  made  some  remark  by  way  of  reply, 
quoting  Dr.  Disney,  who  had  spoken  of  the  dispensary 
system  as  one  of  the  finest  charities  in  New  York. 

"  With  all  due  deference  to  Dr.  Disney,"  Mr.  Ster 
ling  said,  "  he  knows  nothing  about  it.  I  do.  I  have 
gone  to  these  dispensaries ;  I  have  talked  with  the 
doctors  in  charge,  and  my  opinion  is  that  they  are 
about  the  most  abused  charity  in  New  York,  for  the 
very  people  whom  they  were  intended  for  seldom  re 
ceive  any  service  from  them." 

"Of  course  there  are  opportunities  for  abuse;  still 
I  hardly  see  how  your  remark  about  our  other  char 
ities  applies." 

"Well,  I  tried  it  once,- and  that  once  was  enough 
for  me.  I  went  to  a  certain  much-advertised  insti 
tution  just  to  see,  as  some  people  say,  '  how  it  feels.' 
An  elaborately  dressed  female,  the  daughter  of  an 
empress  by  her  airs  one  would  imagine,  turned  upon 
me  a  pair  of  glass  eyes — not  glasses  or  spectacles,  but 
cold,  unfeeling  glass  eyes — and  in  words  which  were 
shot  from  her  mouth  like  bits  of  ice  from  a  catapult 
she  made  inquiries  of  my  general  needs  and  condi 
tion.  Then  I  was  passed  along  to  the  tender  mercies 
of  an  official,  who  put  me  through  such  an  exami 
nation  as  a  police  captain  gives  to  a  man  airested  for 
murder.  After  this  I  had  to  interview  some  *  visit 
ors,'  with  the  hope  of  discovering  that  I  was  a 
'rounder,'  or  some  other  equally  estimable  member 
of  the  community.  Now,  red  tape  and  detectives 
are  very  well  in  their  way,  but  every  poor  man  is 


A  TRADES  UNION    MEETING.  195 

not  a  tramp  or  a  drunkard,  and  should  not  be 
treated  as  such.  When  charity  is  administered  out 
of  a  hand  that  is  as  hard  and  as  cold  as  iron  it  is 
more  of  a  punishment  to  receive  than  to  starve  or  go 
to  jail." 

Hugh  D unbar  made  no  reply  just  then,  though  he 
did  not  agree  quite  with  Mr.  Sterling. 

Shortly  after,  and  having  met  Silas  Smithers  a  few 
times,  he  invited  him  to  come  to  the  Mission  and 
hear  Mr.  Sterling  preach.  "  He  is  a  good  preacher, 
much  better  than  I  am,  and  short,"  he  added,  smiling. 

"  I'm  much  obliged  to  you,  I'm  sure,"  said  Silas, 
"an'  sometime  Mollie  an'  me  will  go,  though  we 
hain't  been  much  to  church  for  a  long  while." 

"Mr.  Sterling  preaches  next  Sunday.  Why  not 
come  then  ? " 

"  Next  Sunday  we  have  a  meetin'  of  our  union." 

"  What  time  does  your  meeting  begin  ? " 

Hugh  was  anxious  to  get  a  hold  on  Smithers,  not 
only  for  his  own  sake,  but  that  in  some  way  he  might 
find  an  opportunity  of  doing  something  for  Jamie. 

"  At  two  o'clock,"  said  Silas ;  "  but  I  belong  to  a 
committee  which  meets  half  an  hour  earlier,  an'  we 
have  some  special  things  to  report  on." 

"Suppose,  then,  you  come  to  the  Mission  in  the 
morning,  remain  with  me  to  lunch,  then  I  will  go  to 
your  meeting  in  the  afternoon." 

In  view  of  Mr.  Dunbar's  kindness  to  Jamie,  not 
only  by  his  visits,  but  in  disposing  of  a  goodly  num 
ber  of  his  carvings  (indeed,  between  Sister  Nora  and 
Mr.  Dunbar  the  boy  was  kept  so  busy  that  the  curio 
man  complained),  it  seemed  an  ungracious  thing  of 


196  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

Silas  Smithers  to  refuse.  The  fact  is,  Silas  was  well 
aware  that  at  the  meetings  of  the  union  ministers 
and  churches  were  spoken  of  quite  freely,  not  always, 
either,  in  very  respectful  terms,  and  he  was  afraid  Mr. 
Dunbar  might  feel  hurt  if  he  heard  some  of  these 
things. 

A  compromise  finally  was  agreed  upon — Silas 
could  not  go  with  Mr.  Dunbar  on  the  next  Sunday, 
but  would  take  him  to  the  union  meeting  in  the  after 
noon. 

"An'  then  some  other  Sunday  Mollie  an'  me  will 
go  to  the  Mission,"  was  his  last  word,  as  Mr.  Dunbar 
got  up  to  leave. 

"I'm  kind  of  afeerd  he  won't  like  it,"  Silas  said 
to  Mrs.  Smithers,  after  Mr.  Dunbar  had  gone.  "  You 
see,  times  just  now  is  bad,  heaps  of  our  men  is  out 
of  work,  an'  there  is  considerable  feelin'.  I  wish  he 
hadn't  wanted  to  come.  Still,  it  ain't  no  fault  of 
mine." 

Silas  consoled  himself  by  bringing  out  his  old 
brier  pipe,  which  he  proceeded  to  fill  in  his  deliberate 
way.  Then  lighting  it  he  sat  down,  and  began  to 
meditate  upon  the  possibilities  of  the  coming  Sunday 
afternoon. 

There  was  not  much  of  the  clergyman  in  Mr.  Dun- 
bar's  appearance,  at  least  so  far  as  dress  was  concerned, 
when  he  presented  himself  at  the  time  appointed,  to 
go  with  Silas  to  the  union  meeting. 

"  Just  say  I  am  a  friend  of  yours,"  he  said  to  Silas, 
as  they  went  down  the  avenue. 

Silas  was  greatly  relieved  at  the  change  in  Mr. 
Pnnbar's  costume.  He  had  not  said  much  about  it 


A   TRADES   UNION   MEETING.  197 

at  home,  for  both  Mrs.  Smithers  and  Jamie  felt 
highly  complimented  at  Mr.  Dunbar's  desire  to  at 
tend  the  meeting  in  his  company,  and  nothing  would 
have  pleased  them  better  than  for  the  young  clergy 
man  to  appear  in  regular  church  garb;  but  Silas  knew 
more  about  these  matters  that  they  did.  Mr.  Dun- 
bar's  tweed  suit,  with  soft,  broad-brimmed  hat,  had 
therefore  his  unqualified  approval.  . 

It  was  expected  that  the  meeting  of  the  afternoon 
would  be  of  special  interest,  for,  as  Silas  explained  to 
Mr.  Dunbar  on  the  way,  delegates  -\vere  coming  from 
some  of  the  other  unions  with  proposals  and  resolu 
tions. 

The  hall  where  the  meeting  was  held,  though  not 
large,  could  easily  accommodate  about  five  hundred 
people,  but  it  was  comparatively  empty  when  Silas 
and  Mr.  Dunbar  arrived.  This,  however,  was  not  to 
be  wondered  at,  for  Silas  had  a  committee  to  attend 
which  met  a  full  half  hour  before  the  regular  meet 
ing.  Following  the  lead  of  Mr.  Smithers,  Hugh 
Dunbar  went  up  to  the  front  seats  in  the  hall,  going 
over  close  to  the  wall  on  the  side,  to  the  right  of  the 
speaker's  desk,  as  this  would  give  him  opportunity  of 
seeing  the  people  as  well  as  hearing  the  speeches. 
Being  alone,  Silas  now  attending  his  committee,  Mr. 
Dunbar  watched  the  men  as  they  came  in,  in  knots 
and  groups,  though  occasionally  one  came  in  by  him 
self.  They  were  mostly  men  in  middle  life,  many  of 
them  with  strong,  resolute  faces,  good,  square  fore 
heads,  and  frank,  clear  eyes  looking  out  from  under 
bushy  eyebrows.  There  was  quite  a  sprinkling  of 
younger  men,  but  they  were  not  so  serious  as  the 


198  DWELLERS  IN   GOTHAM. 

others,  and  by  the  way  in  which  they  addressed  each 
other  the  meeting  was  evidently  a  social  occasion. 

"How  goes  it,  Bill?" 

"  Put  it  there,  Davy." 

"  How's  yonr  fightin'  weight,  Tim  ? " 

"  Sam,  give  us  your  paw." 

Many  such  expressions  passed  freely  around,  some  of 
which  were  so  quaint  and  so  accompanied  with  ges 
ture  as  to  cause  a  quiet  smile  on  Dnnbar's  face  at  times. 

The  usual  tobacco  smoke  imparted  a  fair  degree  of 
pungency  to  the  air  of  the  room,  but  the  ventilation 
was  tolerably  good,  for  which  Dunbar  was  grateful. 

By  the  time  the  chairman  called  the  meeting  to 
order  the  hall  was  full,  and  men  were  standing  in  the 
side  aisles  as  well  as  back  by  the  door. 

The  usual  routine  business  was  got  through  in 
regular  order,  when  the  chairman  announced  that 
two  special  committees  were  now  prepared  to  report. 
Upon  this  there  was  a  buzz  of  excitement,  which 
broke  out  into  vigorous  applause  as  Silas  Smithers 
stood  up  to  read  the  first  of  the  reports  called  for. 
It  may  have  been  that  the  presence  of  Mr.  Dun- 
bar  embarrassed  the  worthy  Silas,  or  that  he  was 
afraid  of  the  effect  of  the  discussion  upon  him,  but, 
be  the  cause  what  it  may,  he  began  reading  in  a 
nervous,  timorous  way.  As  he  could  not  be  heard, 
except  to  those  who  were  quite  near  the  platform, 
instantly  there  were  cries  of  "  Louder ! "  "  Platform ! " 
"Can't  hear!"  with  the  result  that  Silas  had  to 
get  up  on  the  platform  and  begin  all  over  again. 
By  this  time  he  had  recovered  his  nerve,  and  so 
read  as  to  be  heard  all  over  the  hall. 


A  TRADES   UNION    MEETING.  199 

The  report  set  forth  the  work  of  a  committee 
which  had  been  appointed  to  confer  with  the  firm 
of  Mantel  &  Sill  as  to  the  employment  of  non-union 
men.  Mantel  &  Sill,  the  committee  reported,  re 
fused  absolutely  to  discharge  the  non-union  men 
who  were  now  at  work  for  them. 

Tom  Williams  reported  for  the  second  committee, 
and  gave  the  results  of  a  conference  with  Locke  & 
Barr,  iron  founders  and  manufacturers  of  builders' 
hardware.  This  firm  declared  its  intention  of  selling 
goods  to  any  man  who  would  buy  them,  whether  or 
not  such  man  complied  with  the  conditions  of  the 
union. 

The  reading  of  these  reports  was  greeted  with 
cries  of  "  Shame ! "  "  Scabs ! "  "  Strike ! "  the  excite 
ment  increasing  every  moment. 

Hugh  Dunbar  vividly  recalled  the  conversation  in 
Dr.  Disney's,  when  Mark  Brompton  defined  his  po 
sition  with  such  emphasis,  though  no  more  positively 
than  Mr.  Keen  had  done. 

"  By  what  right  do  we  interfere  with  the  business 
of  these  firms  ? "  said  one  of  the  visiting  delegates, 
who  without  wasting  time  upon  preliminaries  struck 
boldly  at  the  very  heart  of  the  question.  "  Simply  the 
right  of  self-preservation,  which  is  the  first  law  of 
nature.  Unless  we  interfere,  and  unless  we  combine 
to  interfere,  we'll  be  crushed  into  ruin.  All  I  have 
in  the  world  is  this  pair  of  hands,"  holding  them  up 
so  that  everyone  in  the  room  could  see  them ;  "  upon 
these  hands  my  family  is  dependin'  for  support. 
Deprive  these  hands  of  labor,  an'  you  deprive  my 
children  of  bread.  But  if  these  hands  are  not  backed 


200  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

up  by  other  hands,  an'  if  there  is  no  unity  among  us, 
then  the  man  who  employs  me  has  me  at  his  mercy. 
He  can  pay  me  what  he  pleases.  He  can  make  my 
hours  as  long  as  he  likes.  He  can  discharge  me 
when  it  suits  him  an'  for  any  reason,  little  or  great. 
Havin'  nothin'  but  my  hands  to  depend  on,  I  am 
helpless  unless  others  unite  with  me.  Your  fight  for 
us  and  our  fight  for  you  is  not  against  Mantel  & 
Sill  or  Locke  &  Barr.  These  firms  simply  repre 
sent  a  combination  of  capital,  an'  unless  there  is  on 
our  part  a  combination  of  labor  the  workin'man  is 
not  much  better  than  the  slaves  before  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion.  In  some  respects  not  so  well  off,  for  it 
was  the  master's  interest  to  feed  an'  clothe  and 
shelter  his  slaves,  but  yon  know  jnst  as  well  as  I  do 
that  there  are  thousands  of  horses  in  New  York  city 
who  have  better  homes,  better  care,  better  food,  than 
the  same  number  of  honest  working  people." 

At  this  point  shouts  of  "True!"  k' Shame!"  were 
heard  all  over  the  hall,  and  Hugh  Dnnbar,  who 
knew  something  of  uptown  stables  and  downtown 
tenements,  could  not  but  admit  that  the  speaker  was 
right. 

"  An'  we  must  make  this  fight  for  ourselves,"  the 
delegate  went  on.  "  There  is  no  one  who  will  make 
it  if  we  don't.  The  newspapers  won't.  Capital  con 
trols  newspapers.  These  reporters  at  this  table  are 
even  more  at  the  beck  and  call  of  the  capitalist  than 
we  are.  They  can  be  dismissed  on  the  spot,  an'  if 
one  word  is  put  in  the  paper  that  is  against  capital, 
the  whole  lot  of  them  editors  will  be  bundled  out 
instanter.  It  ain't  no  use  to  expect  much  from 


A  TRADES  UNION    MEETING.  201 

newspapers.  The  newspaper  lives  by  its  advertising 
an'  it  is  not  the  workman  who  advertises.  He  has 
nothing  to  advertise.  But  the  capitalist  is  the  ad 
vertiser,  and  even  if  he  hain't  got  any  stock  in  the 
paper  he  controls  it  all  the  same." 

Here  one  of  the  reporters,  a  young  man  with 
long  hair  and  a  shirt  collar  of  magnificent  altitude, 
pushed  back  his  chair  from  the  table  and  looked 
at  the  speaker  in  superb  disdain.  The  reporter  was 
a  green  hand  evidently. 

"  Our  young  friend  has  stopped  writin',"  said  the 
delegate,  pointing  to  him,  which  secured  for  the 
reporter  rather  more  attention  than  he  desired. 

"  An'  why  has  he  stopped  writin'  ?  Just  because 
he  dare  not  put  in  his  paper  the  things  which  I  have 
said.  He  can  get  room  for  a  whole  pageful  about  a 
boat  race.  An'  why  ?  Because  the  crews  are  the 
sons  of  rich  men,  who  are  takin'  a  college  course 
in  athletics.  No  fear  of  that  bein'  crowded  out.  O, 
dear,  no !  But  you  look  to-morrow  in  his  paper  for 
a  report  of  this  meetin'.  Well,  you  needn't.  It 
won't  be  there.  Not  that  this  •  young  man  is  to 
blame.  'Not  at  all.  He  simply  dursn't  put  it  in. 
An'  he  couldn't  put  it  in  if  he  \vanted  to.  The  editor 
would  have  it  taken  out,  if  he  stopped  the  press  to  do 
it.  You  are  quite  right,  my  young  friend,  in  sittin' 
back  an'  enjoyin'  the  meetin'.  It  shows  you  have 
good  sense,  for  what's  the  use  of  scribblin'  a  whole 
lot  of  stuff  an'  get  nothin'  for  it  but  the  grand 
bounce  ? " 

It  should  be  said  right  here  that  ever  after,  when 
this  reporter  was  sent  to  union  meetings,  he  was 


202  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

exceedingly  careful  to  pay  minute  attention  to  the 
proceedings,  nor  was  he  ever  known  to  practice  the 
"  lofty  scorn  "  air  again  in  public. 

"  But  then  the  newspapers  are  no  worse  than  the 
others,"  the  speaker  went  on,  leaving  the  reporter  to 
enjoy  himself  as  best  he  could.  "  There's  the  pol 
itician,  for  example.  Will  he  help  us  in  our  fight  ? 
Not  a  bit  of  it.  You  can  depend  upon  the  politicians 
just  about  election  time  makin'  all  kinds  of  promises. 
An'  how  they  love  the  workin'men !  They  can't 
sleep  nights  just  for  thinkin'  of  them  an'  how  much 
they  respect  them.  An'  then  we  vote  as  we  are 
wanted  to,  an'  the  politicians  are  never  seen  or  heard 
from  till  next  election. 

"  An'  then  there's  the  Church." 

Here  Hugh  Dunbar  leaned  forward  with  renewed 
interest,  but  Silas  Smithers  turned  away  his  face  so 
that  he  could  not  even  see  the  speaker.  Silas  was 
very  uncomfortable  at  this  stage  of  the  proceedings. 

"  Does  the  Church  help  us  any  ? "  asked  the  dele 
gate.  "  They  come  over  here  with  their  soup  kitch 
ens,  their  coal  yards,  an'  their  bread  tickets,  makin' 
a  big  parade  of  what  is  bein'  done  fqr  the  poor,  an' 
yet  in  the  church  itself,  in  the  broad  aisles,  on  the 
best  seats,  are  the  very  men  who  grind  the  faces  of 
the  poor.  This  mornin'  most  of  us  didn't  go  to 
church.  Perhaps  we  ought.  To  stay  away  from 
church  is  not  much  to  brag  of.  But  in  some  of  the 
churches  there  were  men  sittin'  as  pious  as  saints, 
owners  of  tenements,  for  which  we  have  to  pay  such 
awful  rents ;  directors  in  corporations,  which  are  the 
first  to  cut  down  wages  and  the  last  to  raise  them  j 


A  TRADES   UNION    MEETING.  203 

men  singin'  about  heaven  and  the  New  Jerusalem 
vho  are  mean  enough  to  do  tilings  we'd  scorn  to 
do.  The  preachers  talk  about  the  'Carpenter  of 
Nazareth,'  but  I  tell  you  if  he  went  to  some  of  the 
churches  in  this  city  it's  a  poor  welcome  he'd  find. 
S'pose  this  mornin'  he'd  gone  to  some  of  them 
churches  uptown,  an'  the  marks  of  toil  on  his 
hands,  an'  his  clothes  plain  an'  commonlike,  would 
he  have  been  taken  up  the  broad  aisle  an'  sat  down 
with  all  them  corporations  an'  syndicates?  Not 
likely.  There  isn't  a  preacher  in  New  York  who 
dares  to  say  the  things  that  the  '  Carpenter  of 
Nazareth'  said.  The  men  who  makes  corners  on 
wheat  an'  cotton,  on  'most  everything,  don't  want 
any  such  preachin'  as  the  Carpenter  preached.  The 
Church  nowadays  is  for  rich  people.  The  poor  man 
is  not  wanted  there.  They  say  he  is,  but  when 
one  goes  he  knows  enough  not  to  go  again.  We 
must  just  fight  our  own  battle.  We  can't  count  on 
anyone  but  ourselves,  but  if  we  will  only  stand  to 
gether  we  are  bound  to  win." 

Long-continued  applause  was  given  the  speaker 
as  he  concluded,  and  to  the  amazement  of  Silas 
Smithers,  who  stealthily  glanced  around,  Mr.  Dunbar 
was  applauding  as  vigorously  as  anyone  in  the  room. 
"  Clappin'  his  hands,  and  stampin'  his  feet,"  was 
how  Silas  described  it  to  Mrs.  Smithers  when  he  got 
home,  Jamie's  blue  eyes  lighting  up  with  wonder 
as  he  listened  to  his  father's  description  of  Mr.  Dun- 
bar's  excitement  at  the  meeting. 

The  next  speaker  was  of  more  refinement  than  the 
first  one,  but  no  less  honest  or  frank. 
H 


204  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 

"My  friend  who  has  just  sat  down  very  properly 
asked  the  question,  By  what  right  do  we  interfere 
with  the  business  of  Mantel  &  Sill  or  Locke  &  Barr? 
and  he  has  answered  that  question  in  a  way  which  ad 
mits  of  no  further  discussion.  May  I  say  but  a  word  or 
two  concerning  this  matter  of  interference?  Our 
armies,  under  General  Grant,  interfered  with  the  busi 
ness  of  the  merchants  in  Vicksburg ;  not  that  there 
was  any  quarrel  with  the  merchants  themselves,  but 
because  a  great  principle  was  involved;  hence  indi 
vidual  rights  had  to  be  sacrificed.  When  Sherman 
undertook  his  march  to  the  sea  he  infringed  upon 
individual  rights  in  the  sharpest  way.  Every  great 
event  in  history  is  marked  by  the  loss  of  individual 
rights.  One  of  the  oldest  and  most  commonly  ac 
cepted  laws  in  the  world  is  that  which  gives  a  man 
rights  in  his  own  property,  but  there  are  times  when 
even  his  ownership  must  be  put  aside.  Wellington 
and  Napoleon  had  no  legal  business  on  the  fields  at 
Waterloo,  and  the  notices,  "  Trespassers  prosecuted  " 
and  "  Keep  off  the  grass,"  so  far  as  actual  law  was  con 
cerned  were  entitled  to  recognition.  But  there  were 
more  matters  in  Waterloo  than  the  rights  of  the  in 
dividual.  Now,  Mantel  &  Sill  or  Locke  &  Barr 
have  individual  rights,  and  while  these  rights  do  not 
conflict  with  others  of  more  importance  they  are  to 
be  respected.  But  just  as  in  war,  when  the  rights 
of  the  individual  must  give  way  before  the  higher 
laws  of  necessity,  so  the  rights  of  the  individual  em 
ployer  must  yield  to  the  larger  rights  of  the  com 
munity." 

Hugh   Dunbar  again  recalled   Mark   Brompton's 


A  TRADES   UNION    MEETING.  205 

positive  statements  that  no  man  had  a  right  to  inter 
fere  in  the  affairs  of  another,  and  that  an  employer 
had  no  interests  except  his  own  to  consider.  He 
wondered  how  Mr.  Brompton  would  meet  the  cool, 
measured  words  of  the  delegate. 

Continuing,  he  said : 

"  We  say  quite  often  that  a  man  has  a  right  to  do 
as  he  pleases  with  his  own.  That  is  not  so.  Even 
a  man's  house  is  not  his  to  do  with  as  he  wishes.  If 
he  attempts  to  pull  it  down  he  must  see  that  other 
houses  are  not  endangered  thereby.  A  man  can  be 
indicted  for  setting  his  house  on  fire  if  it  adjoins 
other  houses.  A  man  cannot  even  take  his  own  life ! 
We  see,  then,  that  in  every  instance  the  rights  of 
the  individual  are  subordinate  to  other  rights.  Hence 
Mantel  &  Sill  or  Locke  &  Barr,  being  only  mem 
bers  of  the  community  in  which  there  are  interests 
paramount  to  theirs,  must  abandon  their  claims  in 
favor  of  that  principle  which  is  the  basis  of  all  true 
government — 'the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest  num 
ber.'  " 

Here  the  speaker  closed,  and  though  the  enthusiasm 
was  not  so  great  as  when  the  other  delegate  had 
finished,  yet  the  impression  was  even  deeper. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned,  Mr.  Dunbar  leav 
ing  the  hall  with  Silas  Srnithers. 


206  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Mrs.    Gubbins   Asks   Questions. 

IT  BO  happened  that  one  of  the  reporters  at  the 
meeting  of  the  union — not  the  callow  youth  to 
whom  the  delegate  paid  such  generous  attention 
— was  the  newspaper  man  referred  to  by  Edward 
Yaughen  in  his  letter  to  his  mother.  His  name  was 
Faber — Dixon  Faber  when  it  was  written  in  full — and 
Edward  was  discovering  him  to  be  a  first-rate  fellow. 

Mrs.  Gubbins,  who  really  was  a  well-meaning 
woman,  tried  to  exercise  a  sort  of  motherly  care  over 
her  boarders,  and  usually  on  Monday  evening, 
when  most  of  her  household  would  be  at  dinner,  took 
occasion  to  introduce  topics  which  related  more  or 
less  to  the  preceding  day.  In  this  she  was  seconded 
by  Miss  Pollok,  for  Miss  Pollok  disapproved  most 
strongly  of  the  way  in  which  many  of  the  boarders 
spent  Sunday,  particularly  certain  heathenish  young 
men  who  went  off  in  the  morning  on  excursions  of 
various  kinds,  seldom  returning  before  night. 

Miss  Pollok  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Church 
of  St.  Elijah — attended  low  celebration  in  the  morn 
ing,  high  celebration  at  noon,  evensong  late  in  the 
afternoon,  and  vespers  in  the  early  evening;  so  that, 
like  a  certain  pious  sparrow  and  an  equally  pious 
swallow,  both  of  which  are  mentioned  in  holy  psalm, 
she  had  found  in  the  church  a  house  and  a  nest  for 
herself. 


MRS.   GUBBINS  ASKS  QUESTIONS.  207 

There  were  those  unkind  enough  to  intimate  that 
the  incoming  of  a  fresh,  marriageable  curate  quickened 
her  religious  zeal ;  but  such  remarks  are  unworthy  of 
any  well-disposed  person. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  she  was  considerably 
taken  up  with  Chasuble,  a  round-faced,  fair-haired 
divine,  who  so  robed  himself,  even  for  street  wear,  as 
to  suggest  the  Litany  on  legs,  and  when  Chasuble, 
using  certain  mediaeval  tones,  spoke  of  "the  holy 
altaws  of  the  chauch,"  Miss  Poll  ok  listened  in  a  rapt, 
ecstatic  way.  It  is  also  true  that  when  Chasuble 
allowed  himself  to  become  engaged  to  a  brewer's 
widow,  of  voluminous  person  but  of  ample  fortune, 
Miss  Pollok  experienced  such  a  sense  of  grief  as 
interfered  for  the  time  with  her  church-going  pro 
pensities.  During  such  time  her  harp  hung  silent 
on  the  willows,  and  her  sweet  voice  was  not  heard  in 
quivering  melody. 

She  thought  the  artist  was  a  heathen — a  handsome 
heathen,  she  admitted  to  herself — one  well  worth 
reclaiming,  but  the  artist  refused  point-blank  to  be 
reclaimed.  Then  she  essayed  the  humorist,  only  to 
meet  the  same  sad  result.  As  a  missionary  to  the 
heathen  Miss  Pollok  was  not  a  brilliant  success. 
Her  efforts  might  possibly  have  been  more  favorably 
received  had  she  been  twenty  years  younger  and  fairer 
to  look  upon. 

"  I  was  not  at  church  yesterday,"  said  Mr.  Faber, 
in  reply  to  a  question  of  Mrs.  Gubbins,  "  yet  I  heard 
a  good  sermon." 

"  Where  were  you  ? "  asked  Mr.  "Wright.  "  I 
have  been  taught  to  believe  that  the  sermon  and 


208  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

the  sanctuary  sustained  and  supplemented  the  Sab 
bath." 

Mr.  Wright,  let  it  be  said,  was  an  ardent  believer 
in  the  power  of  alliteration.  He  followed  this  order 
not  only  in  the  building  of  his  plays,  but  in  ordinary 
conversation. 

"Terrible  truths  tellingly  told,"  he  said,  after 
Faber  had  spoken  of  the  address  of  the  first  delegate. 

"  But  are  they  truths  ? "  Edward  Yaughen  ques 
tioned. 

"  Well,  concerning  the  newspapers,  I  thought  the 
only  way  to  decide  was  to  put  the  delegate's  charge 
to  a  test.  I  therefore  wrote  a  fair  account  of  the 
proceedings,  half  a  column,  perhaps  more,  but  the 
city  editor,  though  he  said  the  '  stuff '  was  good,  ran 
the  blue  pencil  right  through  the  very  parts  which  I 
was  anxious  to  keep.  Then,  as  a  matter  of  curiosity, 
I  got  the  other  papers  which  had  reporters  at  the 
meeting,  but  not  one  of  them  gave  the  proceedings  a 
full  *  stick.'  Only  one  paper  alluded  to  the  visiting 
delegates,  then  merely  mentioning  their  names." 

"  You  think  the  other  charges  equally  true  ? " 
Yaughen  further  questioned. 

"  Not  a  doubt  of  it  to  my  mind,"  Faber  answered. 
"  Perhaps  our  friend  Singleton  here,  who  is  something 
of  a  politician,  may  not  agree  with  me.  Miss  Pollok 
probably  will  defend  the  church.  Still,  I  think  the 
delegate  was  right." 

Mrs.  Gubbins,  having  met  the  demands  of  her 
conscience,  was  satisfied  with  the  results  of  her  in 
quiries,  but  seeing  that  the  discussion  was  likely  to 
reach  beyond  the  limits  of  the  usual  dinner  hour, 


MRS.  GUBBINS  ASKS   QUESTIONS.  209 

proposed  that  the  company  adjourn  to  the  parlor, 
where  the  conversation  would  not  be  interrupted. 
But  an  easy,  informal  dinner-table  talk,  with  its 
"  Yes,  I  will,  thank  you  ; "  "  The  olives,  did  you 
say  ?  "  "  May  I  trouble  you  ? "  "  Thanks,  you  are 
very  kind,"  and  all  the  other  trifles  which  redeem  the 
meal  from  being  a  mere  feeding  time  and  prevent  the 
table  from  becoming  a  trough,  cannot  be  carried  to 
the  parlor  without  losing  almost  everything  of  in 
terest. 

Especially  was  this  true  of  Mrs.  Gubbins's  parlor, 
for  it  was  a  long,  narrow,  dark,  and  rather  depressing 
room,  somewhat  sparsely  settled  with  furniture  of  the 
horse-hair  persuasion. 

There  was,  of  course,  the  inevitable  piano,  but  it 
was  closed,  for  this  was  one  of  the  seasons  referred 
to,  when  Miss  Pollok's  harp  was  on  the  willows,  she 
being  the  only  member  of  the  household  who  had 
the  courage  to  attack  this  treacherous  and  elusive 
instrument.  The  carpet  had  that  strained,  weary 
look  which  one  sometimes  sees  in  people,  as  though 
it  had  been  so  beaten  and  trampled  on  as  to  have  lost 
almost  everything  of  cheerfulness  and  color. 

A  mysterious  but  pretentious  set  of  steel  engrav 
ings,  relating  in  some  vague  way  to  the  "  voyage  of 
life,"  occupied  prominent  places  on  the  walls.  There 
were  also  some  oil  paintings,  portraits — one  of  Mr. 
Gubbins  at  the  time  when  he  endowed  Mrs.  Gubbins 
with  all  his  worldly  goods ;  one  of  Mrs.  Gubbins  in 
the  robes  of  festal  glory  in  which  she  received  this 
endowment ;  and  one  of  Miss  Gubbins  when  she  was 
a  cherub  of  about  five  years'  growth.  The  cherub 


210  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

had  wide  white  pantalettes  coining  down  almost  to 
her  shoes ;  a  light  but  ample  dress,  belted  with  & 
broad  blue  sash  tied  in  a  huge  bowkiiot,  with 
streamers  nearly  to  the  floor  ^  fat,  puffy  cheeks,  be 
tween  which  a  nose  lay  somewhere,  and  a  smile  which 
must  have  cost  the  artist  hours  of  inspired  labor. 

A  "  clock  set "  in  black  marble  had  the  place  of 
honor  on  the  mantelpiece,  but  the  clock  preserved  a 
rigid  silence  concerning  all  its  movements,  while  the 
other  pieces  of  the  "  set,"  being  of  the  Egyptian  urn 
order,  added  to  the  general  solemnity. 

"  As  gloomy  as  a  church,"  was  the  comment  of  the 
artist,  but  not  said  in  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Gubbius, 
for  the  artist  was  a  gentleman. 

"  Silent  and  stately,  chaste  and  charming,"  was  the 
comment  of  Mr.  Wright,  but  said  in  the  presence  of 
Mre.  Gubbins,  for  Mr.  Wright  was  fond  of  an  au 
dience. 

"  Third  floor,  hall  back,  chairs  for  two,  bed  for  one, 
tobacco  for  three,"  said  Edward  Yaughen  to  Singleton 
and  Faber,  as  they  came  up  from  the  dining  room. 

To  Vaughen's  room  they  went,  Singleton  taking 
the  rocker,  Faber  the  other  chair,  Edward  sitting 
crosswise  on  the  bed,  with  his  back  against  the  wall. 

"  That  must  have  been  quite  a  meeting  yesterday 
afternoon,"  Edward  said.  "  I  wish  I  might  sometime 
attend  such  a  gathering." 

"  Then  come  with  me,"  answered  Faber.  "  You 
look  almost  intelligent  enough  to  pass  for  a  reporter. 
With  a  little  coaching  you  might  manage  to  sit  at  a 
table,  scribble  on  some  rough  paper,  and  seem  to  be 
taking  in  the  whole  business." 


MRS.  GUBBINS  ASKS   QUESTIONS.  211 

After  a  few  quick  puffs,  so  as  to  get  a  good  "  fire 
on,"  he  said : 

"  There  was  a  chap  there  yesterday  who  greatly 
interested  me  He  came  in  with  one  of  the  men 
who  read  a  report ;  but  he  was  no  mechanic,  for  his 
bands  were  white  and  smooth.  Besides,  he  didn't 
have  the  '  shop  '  air." 

"  One  of  the  enemy,"  Mr.  Singleton  suggested. 
"  A  spy  in  the  camp." 

"]STo.  He  was  evidently  in  sympathy  with  the 
men.  I  sat  where  I  could  see  him,  and  I  confess  to 
a  curiosity  as  to  who  he  is." 

"  Young  man  ?  "  questioned  Edward,  with  a  certain 
eagerness. 

"  Yes,  somewhere  between  twenty-five  and  thirty." 

"  Large  gray  eyes  ? " 

"  I  should  say  !     Bright  and  quick  as  lightning." 

«  Good-looking  ? " 

"  As  good-looking  as  a  man  has  any  business  to 
be." 

"Did  you  notice  him  when  the  delegate  was 
speaking  about  the  Church  ? " 

"Yes." 

"  Particularly  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"How  did  he  take  it  ?" 

"  His  eyes  fairly  burned.  Once  or  twice  he  acted 
as  if  he  wanted  to  say  something.  His  face  was  very 
pale." 

"  That  young  man  was  Hugh  Dunbar,"  Edward 
said,  in  a  tone  which  admitted  of  no  doubt. 

"And  who,  may  I  ask,  is  Hugh  Dunbar?"  said 


212  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

Mr.  Singleton,  reaching  for  the  tobacco  jar,  which 
stood  on  the  bureau,  and  proceeding  to  refill  his  pipe. 

"  I  can  tell  you,"  answered  Faber,  "  though  I 
never  saw  him  before  yesterday.  He  is  a  rich  young 
clergyman,  who,  instead  of  settling  down  in  some 
elegant  parish,  has  gone  to  the  East  Side,  and  is  doing 
all  kinds  of  work  in  a  Mission  over  there." 

"Then  you  know  something  of  him,  after  all.  I 
was  afraid  he  was  not  being  known,"  Edward  said. 

"  That  is  where  you  are  mistaken,  nor  understand 
Dunbar's  way,"  Faber  replied.  "  True,  he  has  not 
sent  his  picture  to  our  office,  which  explains  my  not 
recognizing  him  yesterday.  Neither  does  he  deluge 
us  with  typewritten  'pickings'  from  his  sermons,  as 
some  prominent  divines  are  in  the  habit  of  doing. 
But  we  are  keeping  track  of  him,  for  he  is  going  to 
make  a  stir  one  of  these  days." 

"Queer  line,  though,  for  that  sort  of  man  to  take," 
Mr.  Singleton  said. 

"  Just  the  right  line,"  answered  Faber. 

"  How  do  you  make  that  out  ?"  Singleton  asked. 

"  Easily.  Here  is  the  Church,  which  is  supposed 
to  stand  for  the  enlightenment  of  the  people,  claim 
ing,  too,  to  have  a  special  mission  from  heaven,  and 
yet,  instead  of  making  common  cause  with  the  people, 
it  has  abandoned  them,  it  has  curried  favor  with  the 
rich,  and  when  the  delegate  said  that  there  was  far 
more  pride  than  piety  in  the  Church  he  was  saying 
the  truth." 

"  Why,  Faber,  for  a  newspaper  man  you  are  almost 
pious,"  Singleton  said,  good-humoredly. 

"O,  that's  the  way  we  get  it  from  you  Wall  Street 


MRS.  GUBBINS  ASKS  QUESTIONS.  213 

saints  when  we  reporters  talk  about  churches  or 
religion,"  Faber  answered,  with  a  smile.  "  Still, 
when  we  see  a  gritty,  plucky  chap,  like  this  Dunbar, 
trying,  man  fashion,  to  do  some  honest  work,  it  is 
something  to  be  proud  of." 

This  time  it  was  Faber  who  reached  for  the  tobacco 
jar,  which  Edward  usually  kept  well  stocked  up. 

"  Then  you  agree  with  the  general  charges  of  the 
delegate  ? "  Mr.  Singleton  asked. 

"  As  a  broad  statement  of  the  facts,  leaving  a  mar 
gin,  however,  for  exceptions,  yes,"  Faber  answered, 
without  a  moment's  hesitation. 

"Kindly  explain,"  asked  Edward  Yaughen.  "Re 
member  I  am  a  stranger,  and  not  familiar  as  you  are 
with  the  conditions  of  the  city." 

"  I  will,"  responded  Faber,  tilting  his  chair  back 
against  the  wrall,  at  the  same  time  working  his  head 
out  from  under  the  short,  straight  gas  pipe,  with 
which  he  was  in  some  danger  of  colliding.  "  Speak 
ing  in  a  general  way,  the  churches  in  this  city  have 
less  interest  in  the  masses  of  the  common  people  than 
they  have  in  the  pagans  of  Central  Africa.  I  am 
familiar  with  New  York,  for  my  work  on  the  Trom 
bone,  with  which  I  have  been  connected  for  a 
number  of  years,  has  sent  me  to  every  part  of  the 
city.  There  is  a  lot  of  talk  at  public  meetings  now 
and  then  about  the  '  masses,'  but  most  of  that  talk  is 
either  rant  or  cant.  To  put  it  plainly,/ the  Church 
has  deserted  the  common  people.  It  has  no  use  for 
them.  They  are  not  wanted.  The  fact  is,  and  we 
all  know  it,  the  lines  between  the  rich  and  the  poor 
are  drawn  more  sharply  in  the  churches  than  any- 


214  DWELLERS  IN   GOTHAM. 

where  else.  A  man  can  go  to  the  theater  and  not 
feel  his  poverty  as  he  will  in  a  church." 

"  Because  he  can  go  to  the  peanut  gallery,"  inter 
posed  Mr.  Singleton.  "The  other  man  can  go  to 
the  boxes." 

"  Exactly,"  replied  Faber.  "  The  theater  is  a 
financial  matter  from  beginning  to  end  ;  the  Church 
is  not.  The  Church  is  supposed  to  stand  for  brother 
hood,  for  equality,  for  great  principles  of  benevolence 
and  love.  Hence  it  should  be  the  last  place  on  earth 
to  mark  differences  or  set  one  class  against  another." 

"  Evidently  you  have  studied  the  situation,"  Mr. 
Singleton  said,  looking  at  Faber  with  more  interest 
than  at  any  time  during  the  evening. 

"  I  have,  experimentally  as  well  as  theoretically. 
But,"  looking  at  his  watch,  "you  must  excuse  me. 
I  have  an  assignment  at  an  uptown  affair  and  must 
be  off." 

"  Bright  fellow,"  said  Singleton,  after  Faber  had 
gone. 

"  Good  fellow,  too,"  added  Edward. 

As  Mr.  Singleton  had  now  got  up,  and  was  pre 
paring  to  go  to  his  room,  Edward  pulled  down  the 
window  so  as  to  get  rid  of  the  tobacco  smoke.  Then, 
on  Mr.  Singleton  leaving,  he  put  on  an  overcoat, 
closed  the  door,  and  started  out  for  a  walk  in  the  cool 
night  air. 


BROADWAY    BY   GASLIGHT.  215 


CHAPTER  XXIY. 
Broadway   by    Gaslight. 

f  DWARD  VAUGHEN  was  yet  so  much  of  a 
stranger  in  New  York  that  when  he  went 
out  for  a  stroll  in  the  evening  he  generally 
contented  himself  with  a  turn  or  two  around  the 
square  close  to  his  boarding  place,  after  which  he 
would  go  back  to  his  room,  where  he  read  or  wrote 
until  it  was  bedtime.  He  tried  to  be  neither  lonely 
nor  homesick,  but  often  he  was  both.  Sometimes 
he  was  half  angry  with  himself  for  leaving  the 
Bromptons  so  abruptly,  for  he  was  genuinely  fond 
of  his  Uncle  Mark. 

The  conversation  with  Faber  and  Singleton  had  so 
excited  him  that  his  customary  short  walk  was  not 
quite  satisfactory.  He  therefore  went  as  far  as 
Broadway,  where  he  stood  for  a  few  moments  unde 
cided  as  to  what  he  should  do  next.  A  cable  car  go 
ing  uptown,  with  a  few  seats  to  spare,  looked  invit 
ing,  and  in  an  instant  he  had  boarded  the  car,  which, 
starting  with  the  usual  but  always  unexpected  jerk, 
deposited  him  with  some  abruptness  in  a  seat  near 
the  front  door,  but  not  before  he  had  sprawled  over 
the  long  legs  of  a  young  man,  knocked  an  elderly 
lady's  bonnet  almost  off  her  head,  and  excited  a  gen 
eral  smile  among  the  other  passengers.  The  young 
man  with  the  long  legs  did  not  smile;  neither  did 
the  elderly  lady  with  the  bonnet ;  but  there  are  some 


216  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

people  who  have  no  sense  of  humor;  though,  for 
that  matter,  Edward  did  not  smile,  at  least  not  just 
then.  But  when  the  long-legged  young  man,  who 
evidently  was  going  somewhere  on  Fourteenth 
Street,  got  up  before  the  car  had  turned  the  curve, 
and  played  the  game  of  "  pillar  to  post "  in  a  most 
reckless  way,  Edward  smiled  with  a  visibility  that 
was  almost  cruel.  He  tried,  though,  not  to  smile 
when  the  elderly  lady  with  the  bonnet,  as  she  rose 
to  go  out,  and  the  car  stopping  with  characteris 
tic  abruptness,  was  carried  as  by  some  mysterious 
force  into  the  unwilling  arms  of  the  conductor,  the 
poor  bonnet  faring  this  time  even  worse  than  before. 
Edward  had  already  discovered  that  while,  in  itself, 
to  get  on  or  off  a  New  York  cable  car  may  not  be  a 
remarkable  achievement,  yet  to  do  either  without 
loss  of  dignity  or  grace  of  attitude  is  an  accomplish 
ment  which  attains  the  standard  of  the  highest  art. 
It  was  yet  early  in  the  evening,  possibly  not  much 
after  nine.  Crowds  of  people  were  moving  about ; 
lights  streamed  from  the  shop  windows,  for  this  par 
ticular  part  of  Broadway  has  all  sorts  of  things  to 
sell,  and  it  sells  them  by  gaslight  as  well  as  day 
light.  There  were  displays  of  fruit,  the  richest  and 
most  tempting  to  be  seen  in  the  city.  There  were 
also  some  wonderful  displays  of  flowers;  people 
gathering  around  the  windows,  admiring  not  only 
the  flowers,  but  the  artistic  way  in  which  they  were 
arranged.  Watching  his  opportunity,  Edward  got  off 
the  car,  and  walked  along  for  a  few  blocks  enjoying 
the  novelty  and  excitement  of  the  scene,  when  sud 
denly  he  came  upon  a  group  of  young  men,  some 


BROADWAY    BY   GASLIGHT.  217 

half  dozen  or  so,  standing  on  the  steps  of  the  main 
entrance  to  a  hotel.  They  were  all  dressed  in  the 
extreme  of  fashion,  but  talked  loudly  and  under 
much  excitement. 

"  Come  on,  Brompton,"  one  of  them  said,  taking 
another  one  by  the  arm,  as  though  he  would  lead  him 
to  some  place  to  which  the  other  did  not  care  to  go. 

"  What's  the  use  ? "  replied  the  one  addressed  as 
Brompton,  speaking  thickly.  "You  fellows  have 
cleaned  me  out.  Haven't  a  stiver.  This  isn't  my 
night.  Some  other  night.  Must  excuse  me." 

The  voice,  though  so  thick  and  guttural  as  to  be 
almost  indistinct,  Edward  recognized  as  that  of  his 
Cousin  Percy. 

"  O,  come  on  !  What's  that  got  to  do  with  it  ?  A 
quiet  little  game,  with  a  chance  for  you  to  even 
things  up  is  what  you  want,"  was  the  reply  of  the 
one  who  first  spoke,  still  holding  on  to  Percy,  and 
making  an  attempt  to  lead  him  clown  the  hotel  steps. 

"  Not  to-night.  I  know  when  I've  had  enough. 
Some  other  night,  when  'twill  be  my  night,  I'll  have 
it  out,  but  I'm  going  home." 

Percy's  answer  was  not  firm,  merely  stubborn, 
which  angered  the  other. 

"  Mamma's  boy  !  going  home  to  his  mammy,"  he 
sneered,  letting  Percy's  arm  go,  that  he  might  ac 
company  his  mocking  words  with  contemptuous 
gesture. 

Edward  was  now  standing  near  the  door  of  the 
hotel,  where  he  could  see  and  hear  everything, 
though  in  the  shadow,  for  he  did  not  wish  Percy  to 
see  him.  He  was  anxious  to  help  Percy,  but  hardly 


218  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

knew  just  how  to  do  it.  He  saw  that  his  cousin 
was  in  a  state  of  almost  helpless  intoxication,  and  if 
left  to  himself  would  be  exposed  to  both  danger  and 
disgrace.  He  also  saw  that  two  or  three  of  the 
group  were  determined  in  some  way  to  take  advan 
tage  of  the  young  man's  miserable  plight,  lure  him 
most  likely  to  some  gaming  den,  and  there  fleece 
him  to  their  hearts'  content,  Edward  noticed  that 
these  two  or  three  were  perfectly  sober,  while  the 
others  were  nearly  as  helplessly  drunk  as  Percy  was. 
He  was  determined,  therefore,  not  to  let  his  cousin 
fall  into  their  hands  any  more  than  he  was  already, 
for  with  "  I.  O.  U.'s"  and  notes  of  hand  they  would 
make  it  a  costly  night  for  his  cousin.  Still  he 
thought  it  best  not  to  interfere  unless  driven  to  it. 

But  Percy's  wine,  or  whatever  drink  it  was,  had 
not  so  dulled  his  wits  as  to  allow  him  to  ignore  the 
sneer  and  scornful  gesture  of  the  one  who  had,  as 
he  thought,  grossly  insulted  him.  Indeed,  the  oppo 
site  was  the  case,  for  in  his  inflamed  condition  he  at 
tached  to  the  mocking  words  a  significance  which 
was  never  intended.  The  speaker,  therefore,  had 
barely  finished  his  taunting  sentence,  before  Percy 
had  struck  him  a  stinging  blow  full  in  the  face. 
Coming  so  suddenly,  as  well  as  with  passionate  force, 
and  taking  the  young  man  by  surprise,  it  caused  him 
to  stagger  back  and  almost  fall  down  the  hotel  steps. 

Instantly  there  was  a  great  commotion.  Men 
rushed  out  from  the  hotel.  Passers-by  assembled  in 
scores.  The  sidewalk  and  hotel  steps  were  jammed, 
and  in  a  few  moments  the  crowd  was  so  great  as  to 
reach  well-nigh  across  the  street.  But  no  sooner  had 


BROADWAY    BY    GASLIGHT.  21$ 

the  blow  been  struck  than  Edward  rushed  forward 
and  with  the  cry,  "  O  !  Cousin  Percy,"  he  took  hold 
of  young  Brompton,  and  by  sheer  strength  forced 
him  within  the  hotel.  Percy  struggled  and  resisted 
to  the  utmost,  but  Edward  was  a  tall,  powerfully 
built  fellow,  and  as  it  was  not  a  question  of  moral 
suasion,  but  of  physical  force,  Percy  had  to  yield. 

The  crowd,  seeing  that  there  was  no  immediate 
prospect  of  renewal  of  hostilities,  disappeared  almost 
as  rapidly  as  it  had  formed,  so  that  with  the  excep 
tion  of  a  few  curious  stragglers  the  hotel  and  street 
resumed  their  wonted  condition.  The  friends  of  the 
man  who  was  struck  took  hold  of  him,  as  Edward 
had  taken  hold  of  Percy,  only  instead  of  bringing 
him  into  the  hotel  they  led  him  off  in  another  direc 
tion. 

Great  excitements  and  great  shocks  will  soon  sober 
the  most  drunken  of  men.  It  was  not  long,  there 
fore,  before  Percy  began  to  realize  something  of 
what  had  taken  place. 

"The  cad!"  he  muttered  ;"  wasn't  satisfied  with 
winning  my  money,  but  must  insult  me  on  the  street. 
Confound  him  !  I'll  break  his  neck." 

After  a  few  moments  he  broke  out  again : 

"  I  believe  that  hound  is  a  regular  sharper.  Just 
look  here,"  turning  his  pockets  inside  out ; "  he  hasn't 
left  me  a  copper.  But  'tisn't  the  money  I  care  about. 
The  miserable  whelp !  " 

In  a  little  while  some  of  the  young  men  who  were 

with   Percy  on  the  steps  of  the  hotel  at  tlie  time 

of  the  row  came  into  the  room  where  he  was  with 

Edward.      The  incident,  however,  had  not  sobered 

15 


220  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

them;  they  were  not  principals,  only  onlookers;  their 
reckless  hilarity,  if  anything,  was,  therefore,  in 
creased.  They  complimented  Percy  on  his  courage. 
They  agreed  with  him  in  his  estimate  of  the  one 
whom  he  had  struck.  They  insisted  upon  having  up 
a  bottle  of  wine  to  drink  Percy's  health.  They 
made  silly  speeches.  They  sang  silly  songs.  They 
acted  like  a  lot  of  young  fools.  Finally  some  of 
them,  having  worn  themselves  out  with 

"  For  he's  a  jolly  good  fellow, 
Which  nobody  can  deny," 

had  either  sobered  sufficiently  to  go  home,  or  being 
known  in  the  hotel  were  given  rooms  for  the  night. 
So  Edward,  when  it  was  almost  midnight,  ordered  a 
carriage  and  took  Percy  to  the  Brompton  mansion. 

Some  years  before,  Mark  Brompton,  seeing  that 
Percy  was  not  likely  to  make  much  headway  in 
scholarship,  and  had  no  taste  whatever  for  any 
thing  in  scientific  lines,  proposed  that  he  go  into 
some  business.  To  this  Mrs.  Brompton  made  strenu 
ous  objection.  In  a  voice  that  was  as  clear  as  a 
piccolo  in  Alpine  air  she  declared  that  there  should 
be  "  at  least  one  gentleman  in  the  family." 

Mr.  Brompton  intimated  that  it  was  possible  for 
one  to  be  a  gentleman  and  still  to  be  in  business. 

"You  know  what  I  mean,  Mark,"  said  Mrs. 
Brompton,  still  using  the  piccolo,  though  the  finger 
ing  was  not  skillful. 

"  I  probably  know  what  you  mean  better  than 
you  know  yourself,"  retorted  Mr.  Brompton,  upon 
whom  the  piccolo  had  an  irritating  effect. 

"I   hardly  see  how  you  could  know  very   much 


BROADWAY    BY   GASLIGHT.  221 

about  either  gentlemen  or  their  ways,"  replied  Mrs. 
Brompton,  raising  the  last  linger  of  her  right  hand 
on  the  piccolo. 

When  a  family  matter  is  being  discussed  by  a 
bassoon  and  a  piccolo,  though  the  bassoon  has  a  range 
of  three  octaves,  the  piccolo  invariably  comes  out 
ahead. 

Janet  was  the  only  one  who  favored  the  idea  put 
forward  by  Mr.  Brompton,  but  as  Ethel  said : 

"  Janet  has  difficulty  with  herself.  Naturally  she 
is  inclined  to  be  vulgar/' 

"  You  sweet  saint !  What  a  gentle,  kindly  way  you 
have !  With  what  tender  delicacy  you  convey  your 
feelings !  "  and  Janet  flared  up  in  her  hot,  impulsive 
way. 

"  But  why  should  Percy  be  tied  down  to  a  desk 
or  slave  in  an  office  when  there  is  no  need  of  it?" 
asked  Mrs.  Brompton,  when  they  were  discussing 
the  matter  among  themselves. 

"  No  need  of  it  so  far  as  money  is  concerned,  but 
other  things  have  to  be  considered.  Percy  would  be 
very  much  better  off  if  he  had  something  to  do.  For 
some  time  past,  a  whole  year  or  so,  he  has  not  been 
doing  well.  His  rooms  and  mine  are  on  the  same 
floor.  I  hear  him  when  he  comes  in,  and  he  nearly 
always  comes  in  late.  You  know  tha-t  he  is  rarely 
down  to  breakfast.  Then,  too,  he  never  has  any  money. 
What  he  does  with  his  allowance  goodness  knows.  I 
don't  like  to  say  it,  mamma,  but  I  think  Percy  is  in  a 
bad  way." 

"Janet,  you  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself, 
talking  in  this  way  about  your  brother.  He  is  no 


222  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

worse  than  hundreds  of  the  young  men  of  his  class. 
What  would  you  have  him  do  ?  Perhaps  papa 
could  get  him  into  Linsey  &  Woolsey's  as  floorwalker, 
where  he  would  have  a  chance  to  associate  with  that 
girl  in  the  cloak  department  of  whom  Madge  Disney 
is  so  fond." 

This  little  speech  of  Ethel's  thoroughly  angered 
Janet,  and  when  she  was  angry  she  spoke  right  out, 
irrespective  of  consequences.  Even  her  mother's 
stateliness  had  not  the  least  effect. 

"  Better  for  him  to  be  a  floorwalker,  earning  an 
honest  living,  than  to  be  hanging  around  theaters, 
dangling  after  actresses,  drinking  with  all  sorts  of 
people,  and  spending  money  in  the  most  reckless, 
foolish  way.  Perhaps  he  is  no  worse  than  the  other 
young  men  of  his  class.  But  that  is  not  saying 
much.  Carl  Von  der  Plonk  was  so  intoxicated  the 
other  evening  at  the  Snipkins's  reception  that  he  had 
to  be  taken  home.  Young  Fitz  Noodle  got  himself 
into  such  a  scrape  with  that  variety  actress  that  his 
people  had  to  send  him  away.  And  we  all  know 
what  happened  to  Charlie  Blobbs.  The  sooner  we 
do  something  for  Percy  the  better  for  him  and  for 
us  as  well." 

"  Now  that  you  have  shown  such  an  intimate  ac 
quaintance  with  your  brother's  habits  and  private 
affairs,  perhaps  you  wrould  kindly  suggest  just  what 
you  want  him  to  do.  The  least  hint  of  yours  could 
not  but  be  valuable." 

"  Ethel,  I  love  Percy  just  as  much  as  you  do,  per 
haps  more,  if  it  comes  to  that,  for  you  are  not  will 
ing  to  sacrifice  any  of  your  pride  so  as  to  really  help 


BROADWAY   BY   GASLIGHT.  223 

him.  "Why  should  he  waste  himself  as  he  is  doing 
now  ? " 

"  He  is  not  wasting  himself,"  corrected  Mrs. 
Brompton,  again  having  recourse  to  the  piccolo. 

"  He  is  wasting  himself,"  returned  Janet,  heed 
less  not  only  of  the  piccolo,  but  of  the  fifth  com 
mandment.  "  He  plays  golf ;  he  plays  tennis  ;  he 
plays  polo ;  he  goes  about  town  with  a  set  of  fast 
young  men.  At  night  he  plays  cards  and  billiards, 
and  comes  home  at  all  hours,  and  if  you  don't  call 
that  wasting  himself,  then  I  don't  know  anything 
about  it." 

It  was  now  Mrs.  Brompton's  turn  to  be  angry. 
Not  that  she  could  dispute  the  truth  of  Janet's 
words  ;  indeed,  it  was  their  simple  truth  which  made 
her  so  angry. 

"  It  seems  to  me,  Janet,  that  you  have  been  play 
ing  the  spy  upon  Percy,  which  in  my  opinion  is 
a  mean,  low,  contemptible  proceeding.  Young  men 
will  be  young  men.  Young  sinners  often  make  old 
saints.  But  it  is  just  as  Ethel  says — you  would  like  him 
to  be  some  miserable  counterjumper  or  pettifogging 
clerk.  "Why  didn't  you  suggest  his  going  over  to 
the  iron  works  in  which  your  father  is  interested  ?  A 
place  might  be  found  for  him  in  the  yard." 

"With  this  Mrs.  Brompton  left  the  room,  departing 
in  high  wrath,  leaving  the  girls  to  fix  up  matters  as 
best  they  could. 

"  Janet,  you  should  not  annoy  mamma  so,"  Ethel 
said,  tightening  up  the  keys  of  her  verbal  fiddle,  pre 
paratory  to  a  general  attack  on  the  strings. 

Janet  made  no  reply.     She  had  no  piccolo  at  com- 


224  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

mand  like  her  mother.  She  had  no  keen,  delicate 
violin  such  as  her  sister  handled  so  skillfully.  Her 
weapon  was  only  a  trumpet  which  consumed  more 
breath  than  she  could  usually  spare.  So  Ethel  went 
on,  bowing  on  the  highest  register : 

"  You  know  that  mamma  will  not  consent  to  any 
such  arrangement  as  papa  proposes.  Besides,  what 
would  the  Yon  der  Plonks  say  ?  or  the  Fitz  Noodles  ? 
If  you  have  no  pride  for  yourself,  Janet,  you  should 
have  some  for  the  family." 

All  this,  as  has  been  said,  took  place  some  time 
ago.  But  Percy  was  not  put  at  any  business. 

On  reaching  the  house,  Percy,  after  he  had  fum 
bled  in  all  his  pockets,  gave  Edward  his  night  key, 
with  which  he  opened  the  door,  and  then,  taking 
Percy's  arm,  helped  him  up  stairs  to  his  room.  No 
one  was  in  the  hall  or  parlors,  for  it  was  now  after 
midnight.  A  light,  however,  was  in  the  library, 
showing  that  Mr.  Brompton  had  not  retired. 

"  I'm  much  obliged  to  you,"  Percy  said,  when 
after  a  few  minutes  Edward  rose  and  was  preparing 
to  leave.  "  I'm  ashamed  of  that  miserable  row  down 
there,  but  that  fellow  angered  me  more  than  I  could 
stand." 

"Have  you  known  him  for  any  length  of  time?" 
Edward  asked. 

"Not  so  very  long,  but  it  has  been  an  expensive 
acquaintance." 

Edward  said  nothing,  having  a  suspicion  that 
Percy  had  been  losing  money  at  cards. 

"Why,  it  isn't  more  than  a  month  since  I  first  met 
that  fellow,  and  he  has  worked  7ne  for  over  a  thou- 


BROADWAY    BY    GASLIGHT.  225 

sand  dollars,"  said  Percy,  answering  the  question 
which  Edward  did  not  ask.  "  But,  confound  it  all, 
what  can  a  fellow  do  ?  Here  I  am  all  alone  in 
this  big  barrack  of  a  house.  Mrs.  B.  is  always  out 
somewhere.  The  Misses  B.  are  always  out  some 
where.  Mr.  B.  is  everlastingly  busy  with  papers  and 
things  in  the  library.  The  only  one  who  takes  any 
interest  in  me  is  Janet." 

Edward  went  down  stairs  as  quietly  as  he  could, 
but  on  reaching  the  hall  Mr.  Broinpton  came  out  of 
the  library. 

"  Why,  Edward!"  he  said,  "how  is  this?"  look 
ing  at  him  keenly,  though  not  unkindly. 

"  I  met  Percy  downtown  and  came  home  with 
him,"  was  the  reply. 

Whatever  suspicions  Mr.  Brompton  may  have  had 
he  kept  them  to  himself,  for  his  next  question  was : 

"  You  still  like  your  place  with  Keen  &  Sharp  ? " 

"  More  than  I  did  at  first,"  Edward  was  able  to 
say  truthfully. 

"  Are  you  in  the  inner,  office  yet  ? " 

"No,  Keen  &  Sharp  evidently  do  not  intend 
that  I  shall  know  much  of  their  private  business,  for 
I  am  still  on  an  outside  desk." 

"  Who  has  charge  of  your  department  ? " 

"Mr.  Singleton,  who,  by  the  way,  lives  in  the 
house  with  me." 

"  Is  he  treated  as  a  confidant  ?  " 

"  I  think  not.  Indeed,  I  am  sure  of  it,  for  it  was 
only  the  other  day  that  he  was  speaking  of  this  same 
thing,  and  complaining  that  the  firm  was  managing 
the  business  very  differently  from  what  they  used  to." 


226  DWELLERS  IN  GOTHAM. 

"Then  there  have  been  ehanges  in  the  work  of 
the  office  ? " 

"  Yes,  a  good  many  ;  particularly  within  the  past 
six  months.'' 

"  Or,  in  other  words,  since  you  went  there,"  said 
Mr.  Brompton,  with  a  meaning  look. 

"  Edward,"  he  said,  a  moment  later,  "  I  don't  want 
you  to  be  a  spy,  or  in  any  way  act  dishonorably  to  your 
employers.  But  let  me  tell  you  something  which 
very  few  people  know — you  are  in  my  employment 
when  you  are  with  Keen  &  Sharp,  for  I  am  a  large 
though  silent  partner  in  the  firm.  Now,  I  am  af raid 
there  is  something  wrong.  You  can,  therefore, 
serve  me  by  keeping  your  eyes  open.  I  have  confi 
dence  in  you  and  am  willing  to  trust  you." 

So  the  uncle  and  nephew  parted — the  one  to  make 
his  way  to  a  downtown  boarding  house,  the  other 
to  go  back  to  his  chair  in  the  lonely  library. 


DICK  WHITTINGTON'S   CAT.  227 


CHAPTER  XXY. 
Dick  Whittington's  Cat. 

WHEN  Edward  Vaughen  left  the  house  of  his 
Uncle  Mark  it  was  his  intention  to  walk 
down  Fifth  Avenue  to  Fifty-ninth  Street, 
cross  over  to  Third  Avenue,  where  he  could  take  the 
"Elevated"  to  Ninth  Street,  which  would  bring  him 
within  a  few  blocks  of  his  home.  But  walking 
briskly,  and  thinking  intently  of  what  Mr.  Bromp- 
ton  had  said,  he  was  at  Fifty-ninth  Street  in  what 
seemed  only  a  few  minutes.  He  determined,  there 
fore,  to  go  on  down  Fifth  A  venue,  for  though  the 
night  was  cool  it  was  pleasant — just  the  night  for  a 
brisk  walk.  Nor  was  it  late — that  is,  in  the  New 
York  sense  of  lateness — for  while  the  New  York 
clocks  synchronize  with  all  others  of  the  Eastern  sec 
tion,  still  the  hours  on  Manhattan  Island  do  not  mean 
the  same  as  in  some  other  places. 

Now,  in  Eastwich,  until  Edward  went  to  college, 
"  Curfew "  meant  for  him.  as  for  all  others  in  the 
village,  the  solemn  departure  of  another  day.  The 
little  children  were  then  supposed  to  be  fast  asleep, 
and  the  young  people  were  all  expected  home.  The 
grocery  store  put  up  its  shutters,  put  out  its  lights, 
and  closed  its  door.  The  houses  generally  were  dark 
and  still,  and  to  be  on  the  street  after  this  hour 
would  either  have  to  be  explained  or  open  the  way 
to  unpleasant  criticism.  A  quiet  place  indeed  was 
Eastwich  once  nine  o'clock  had  rung. 


228  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

The  broad  church  steps,  which  run  the  entire 
length  of  the  church  front,  leading  up  to  the  ample 
porch  with  its  Corinthian  columns,  where  the  chil 
dren  gathered  almost  as  soon  as  school  was  over, 
were  now  deserted,  and  the  church,  so  white  and 
stately,  lifted  itself  into  the  mysterious  shadows  of 
the  night. 

The  pump  and  horse  trough,  which  stood  right  op 
posite  the  forge  of  Andy  Smith,  usually  one  of  the 
most  active  and  populous  parts  of  the  village,  gave 
no  sign  of  life  whatever.  Nor  would  anyone,  except 
a  resident  of  the  place,  ever  have  imagined  the  gos 
siping,  the  chaffering,  the  disputing — equine,  canine, 
and,  of  the  human,  masculine — on  this  very  spot  an 
hour  or  two  before.  Occasionally  a  light  would  be 
seen  in  the  back  parlor  of  Mrs.  Paletot,  which  sug 
gested  a  funeral  or  a  wedding  somewhere  in  the 
neighborhood,  for  which  she  had  special  orders. 
But  as  a  rule  Mrs.  Paletot  kept  regular  Eastwich 
hours. 

The  medical  establishment  of  the  village  was  fairly 
primitive ;  still  it  had  certain  advantages  over  many 
more  pretentious  concerns.  It  was  all  under  one 
roof,  for  the  doctor  kept  the  drug  store  and  the  drug 
store  kept  the  doctor.  The  doctor  first  wrote  the 
prescription  and  then  proceeded  to  fill  it  up,  careful 
never  to  prescribe  anything  which  was  not  in  the 
drug  store  ;  thus  much  time  and  trouble  were  pleas 
antly  avoided.  A  light  was  always  set  in  the  drug 
store  window,  the  doctor  slept  in  the  room  overhead, 
but  this  was  usually  the  only  light  on  the  street. 

By  ten  o'clock  there  would  not  be  a  sound  any- 


DICK   WHITTINGTON'S   CAT.  229 

where  in  Eastwich  except  the  crying  of  a  sick  child, 
the  bark  of  some  restless  dog,  or  the  step  of  a  be 
lated  traveler,  lover  most  likely,  hastening  to  his 
home. 

The  contrast  was  therefore  very  marked  as  Ed 
ward  stood  on  the  Plaza  at  Fifty-ninth  Street,  for  it 
was  brilliantly  illuminated,  and  the  big  hotels  which 
border  on  the  Plaza  were  full  of  life  and  gayety. 
Carriages  were  coming  and  going.  Such  of  the 
hotels  as  kept  public  cafes  had  large  companies  of 
ladies  and  gentlemen  enjoying  after-theater  suppers, 
and  the  scene  reminded  Edward  very  distinctly  of 
the  few  weeks  which  he  had  spent  in  Paris  one  va 
cation  with  John  Disney.  No  place  in  New  York, 
perhaps  no  place  in  the  whole  world,  has  a  greater 
aggregation  of  wealth  than  this  Plaza  and  its  imme 
diate  neighborhood.  In  the  hotels  themselves  the 
dreams  of  the  "Arabian  Nights "  are  more  than  re 
alized,  for  no  prince  or  king  could  maintain  such 
establishments  as  these.  In  them  is  everything  that 
the  most  fabulous  wealth  can  command — porticoes, 
with  carvings  in  the  stone  worthy  of  a  cathedral 
altar ;  staircases  and  corridors  in  Sienna  marble  and 
bronze,  in  which  are  chiseled  and  traced  the  most 
exquisite  designs ;  Pompeiian  billiard  rooms ;  First 
Empire  drawing  rooms  ;  Versailles  bedrooms,  parlors, 
and  dining  rooms,  after  some  of  the  daintiest  in  Euro 
pean  palaces.  No  Monte  Cristo,  in  whose  hands  mil 
lions  were  but  trifles,  could  have  devised  for  himself 
anything  more  luxurious  than  these  palatial  abodes. 

Within  these  superb  buildings  are  hundreds  of 
New  York's  wealthiest  families,  permanent  residents, 


230  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

who  maintain  their  suites  of  apartments  all  the  year 
round,  living  in  a  way  that  is  almost  bewildering,  so 
rich  and  extravagant  it  is.  Everything  that  the 
brain  of  man  can  suggest ;  every  invention  which  in 
the  least  measure  will  promote  comfort  and  ease  ; 
every  hint  of  science  which  might  add  to  health 
and  safety ;  every  tint  of  artist's  brush  ;  every  cut  of 
sculptor's  chisel;  every  dainty  touch  of  decorator; 
hangings  of  silk,  of  lace,  of  rich  tapestry,  are  all 
here,  and  in  such  profusion  as  to  reveal  the  possibili 
ties  of  wealth  illimitable. 

"Whence  came  these  colossal  fortunes  ?  This  was 
the  question  Edward  Yaughen  was  putting  to  him 
self  as  he  stood  within  stone's  throw  of  the  huge 
hotels.  Some  of  them — not  all  of  them — may  be  ac 
counted  for. 

"  It  can  be  bought  for —  " 

Mr.  Trawleigh  hesitated  at  naming  the  amount, 
though  he  knew  it  perfectly. 

"  Five  millions,"  put  in  Mr.  Keen. 

"  And  capitalized  for — 

Mr.  Trawleigh  again  hesitated. 

"  Thirty  millions,"  said  Mr.  Keen,  in  a  calm,  mat 
ter-of-fact  tone,  as  if  the  sum  named  were  a  mere 
trifle. 

"  Can  the  stock  be  placed  at  that  figure  ?  "  asked 
Mr.  Albright,  rising  from  his  chair  and  going  over  to 
a  table,  upon  which  some  maps  were  spread,  through 
which  certain  red  lines  were  drawn. 

"  Not  a  doubt  of  it,"  answered  Mr.  Keen.  "  Hunt 
&  Steele,  who  are  in  this  thing  with  us,  have  so  far 


DICK  WHITTINGTON'S  CAT.  231 

arranged  for  about  a  quarter  of  it.  Deale,  Dicker  & 
Smart,  who  are  also  in  the  syndicate,  report  about 
the  same  figure.  Our  firm  lias  not  been  idle,  so  the 
stock  will  sell  at  par  right  off." 

"  How  long  will  it  remain  there  ?  "  Mr.  Albright 
asked,  still  looking  at  the  maps,  and  following  some 
of  the  tracings  with  a  lead  pencil  which  he  held  in 
his  hand. 

"Until  the  syndicate  has  disposed  of  its  holdings," 
answered  Mr.  Keen,  in  the  same  cool,  matter-of-fact 
way. 

"  Brompton  in  this  ? "  asked  Mr.  Eobb,  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Robb  &  Gouge. 

"  No ;  he  didn't  get  the  chance,"  Mr.  Keen  said, 
who  seemed  to  be  in  charge  of  the  proceedings. 

"Any  trouble  with  the  city  ? "  questioned  Mr. 
Albright,  now  looking  up  from  the  maps  and  facing 
Mr.  Keen. 

"  None  whatever.  Our  Mr.  Sharp  has  been  doing 
some  missionary  work  with  a  few  of  the  more  noisy 
ones.  Everything  is  all  right." 

"  I  am  afraid  of  it,"  said  Mr.  Wise,  a  careful  but 
reputedly  wealthy  banker.  "  Here  is  a  proposition 
to  take  property  which  is  worth  in  actual  value  five 
millions  and  put  it  on  the  market  at  thirty  millions. 
Now,  to  make  dividends  on  this  enormous  increase 
of  capital  we  must  cut  down  the  wages  of  every  man 
on  the  road,  and  some  of  them  hardly  get  enough 
to  keep  body  and  soul  together.  Gentlemen,  this  is 
not  the  kind  of  business  I  take  stock  in." 

"  Neither  do  I,"  said  Mr.  Albright ;  "  there  has 
been  altogether  too  much  of  this  sort  of  thing." 


232  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

Was  the  syndicate  formed  ? 
It  was. 
•  •  •  .          •  •  •  • 

"  You  think  it  can  be  done  ? " 

"  I  know  it  can  be  done." 

"  You  speak  confidently." 

"  Became  it  is  practically  done  now." 

"Explain." 

"  There  is  now  in  hand,  and  in  easy  reach,  a  con 
trolling  interest  in  the  road.  It  hasn't  met  its  fixed 
charges  for  some  years.  The  stock  has  been  going 
down  and  down.  We  can  control  things  when  we 
please." 

"And  then?" 

"  Reorganize ;  drop  out  the  old  stockholders  ;  float 
the  new  certificates  ;  officer  the  road  ourselves ;  make 
the  biggest  strike  this  city  has  known  for  years." 

Was  it  done  ? 

It  was. 

"  It  is  a  great  scheme,"  said  Mr.  Furroughs. 

"A  scheme  with  money  in  it,  which  is  more  im 
portant,"  said  Mr.  Granger. 

"  It  will  excite  the  opposition  of  the  newspapers." 

"What  of  that?" 

"  These  reformers  and  radical  preachers  will  de 
nounce  it." 

"  Let  them." 

"  It  will  squeeze  a  good  many  people." 

"What  odds?" 

"  It  will  mean  an  increase  in  the  price  of  bread." 

"  Suppose  it  does  ? " 


DICK  WHITTINGTON'S  CAT.  233 

"The  poor  have  it  hard  enough  now,  goodness 
knows." 

"  A  penny  in  a  loaf  isn't  much." 

"  Not  to  you ;  it  is  to  the  poor  man." 

"  You  needn't  go  in  unless  you  want  to.  This 
thing  is  going.  If  you  want  to  ride,  better  jump  on." 

Was  it  done  ? 

It  was. 

At  whose  cost  ? 

At  the  cost  of  the  man  who  had  to  pay  the  extra 
penny  on  his  loaf. 

"  Edward  Vaughen,  give  an  account  of  yourself ! 
An  hour  after  midnight  and  you  wandering  around 
the  streets  of  New  York ! " 

It  was  John  Disney  who  spoke,  laying  at  the  same 
moment  his  hand  upon  Edward's  shoulder. 

"  I  am  looking  for  Whittington's  cat  or  Aladdin's 
lamp,"  Edward  answered. 

"  New  York  has  not,  within  my  time  at  any  rate, 
been  troubled  with  a  scarcity  of  cats ;  the  Whitting- 
ton  brand,  though,  is  rare.  As  for  lamps,  the  Ahid- 
din  make  is  hard  to  get  hold  of." 

John  said  this  as  they  turned  from  the  corner  and 
were  walking  down  the  avenue. 

"  Strange,  isn't  it,"  Edward  said,  "  people  nearly 
always  associate  good  fortune  with  luck  or  magic, 
and  seldom  witli  plodding  and  hard  work  ?  " 

"  Not  strange  at  all,  my  philosophic  friend.  Many 
of  the  great  fortunes  right  round  us  were  not  attained 
by  patient '  plodding.'  Whittington's  cat  or  Aladdin's 
lamp  had  something  to  do  with  most  of  them." 


234  DWELLERS  IN  GOTHAM. 

"Then  the  man  who  contents  himself  with  plain, 
hard  work  doesn't  stand  much  chance  of  success  ? " 

"  If  that  man  but  knew  it  he  has  found  Aladdin's 
lamp,  only  instead  of  ghouls  and  goblins  and  all 
manner  of  strange  creatures  from  the  specter  world 
he  has  spirits  of  life  and  health  and  peace  to  wait 
upon  him.  The  man  who  has  a  clear  eye,  a  clean 
heart,  a  conscience  which  does  not  need  to  be 
drugged  ;  who  can  stand  on  his  own  feet  and  look 
the  world  in  the  face — he  is  the  successful  man.  The 
trouble  is,  he  seldom  knows  it.  Now,  here  is  Edward 
Yaughen,  a  friend  of  mine,  my  college  classmate, 
fairly  good-looking,  with  a  reasonable  measure  of 
ability ;  strong,  hearty,  healthy,  a  promising  career 
opening  before  him;  but  because  he  must  for  the 
present  be  content  with  a  '  third  floor,  hall  back'  in 
the  house  of  the  esteemed  Mrs.  Gubbins,  and  cannot 
have  an  uptown  hotel  all  to  himself,  I  find  him  wan 
dering  discontented  and  distressed  through  the 
streets  of  New  York,  as  unhappy  as  a  spring  poet 
overtaken  by  a  blizzard,  or  a  park  policeman  in  a 
rain  storm." 

Edward  knew  John  too  well  to  attempt  anything 
by  way  of  protest,  for  that  would  only  add  fuel  to  the 
flame.  John  therefore  went  on  : 

"  Now,  some  of  these  people,"  with  a  wave  of  his 
hand  in  the  direction  of  certain  pretentious  houses  on 
the  avenue,  "  may  have,  for  all  I  know,  the  veritable 
Whittington  cat  or  the  genuine  Aladdin  lamp.  But 
the  cat  is  eternally  humping  itself,  and  is  a  cross. 
spiteful,  disagreeable  old  thing.  The  lamp,  more 
over,  only  calls  forth  little  devils  of  pride,  avarice 


DICK   WHITTINGTON'S   CAT.  235 

jealousy,  and  all  the  rest  of  them,  so  that  the  owners 
of  the  lamp  are  to  be  pitied." 

"But  these  are  the  successful  people,"  Edward 
managed  to  edge  in,  taking  advantage  of  a  slight 
pause  in  John's  oratorio  flow. 

"  Successful  in  what  ? "  John  asked.  "  Success 
means  achievement ;  it  means  the  overcoming  of  dif 
ficulties  ;  but  tell  me,  I  pray  thee,  thou  man  of  wis 
dom,  what  mighty  genius  is  required  in  finding 
a  stray  cat  which  turns  out  to  be  a  '  Whittington,'  or 
in  tumbling  over  an  old  lamp  which  proves  to  be  an 
'Aladdin?'" 

"  What,  then,  is  real  success  ?  "  Edward  asked,  for 
John's  mood  was  one  with  which  he  was  perfectly 
familiar.  Hence  he  dropped  a  question  now  and 
then,  like  a  nickel  in  the  slot,  just  to  keep  the  ma 
chine  going. 

"  Success,  my  respected  and  venerable  brother,  is 
the  art  of  life.  The  newsboy  who  sells  his  papers, 
the  peanut  man  who  sells  his  peanuts,  the  street  ped 
lar  who  sells  his  suspenders  and  shoe  laces,  equally 
with  the  merchant,  the  banker,  or  the  senator,  may 
attain  the  highest  possible  success.  All  that  anyone 
has  to  do  is  to  live  up  to  the  measure  of  his  abilities. 
A  brook  trout  doesn't  require  an  ocean ;  a  daisy  can 
grow  in  a  patch  of  ground  as  well  as  in  a  prairie. 
But  here  we  are  down  to  Madison  Square !  All 
good,  nice  little  boys  should  be  in  bed.  The  anxious 
soul  of  your  dear  Mrs.  Gubbins  will  be  distressed." 

And  so  they  parted,  John  Disney  taking  a  Madi 
son  Avenue  street  car,  Edward  Vaughen  continuing 
his  walk,  for  he  was  now  within  a  few  blocks  of  home. 
16 


236  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 

The  Real  Dr.  Disney. 

DIXON  FABER,  in  an  irreverent  way  not  un 
common  with  newspaper   men,   referred    to 
Mr.  Singleton  as  "  something  of  a  politician," 
but  Mr.  Singleton  was  much  more  than  a  politician  ; 
he  was  a  philosopher.     Anyone  can  be  a  politician. 
All  that  a  man  has  to  do  is  simply  to  study  his  own 
interests,  and  then  advance  them  in  every  possible 
way.     But  it  is  not  everyone  who  can  be  a  philosopher. 
This  requires  patience,  large-mindedness,  and  mental 
aptitudes  of  no  common  order. 

Mr.  Singleton  (Benjamin  he  was  called  at  baptism; 
Ben  he  was  dubbed  when  a  boy  at  school ;  but  now 
that  he  was  full  forty  years  of  age,  was  quite  bald  on 
the  top  of  his  head,  and  had  charge  of  a  department 
in  Keen  &  Sharp's,  he  was  addressed  usually  as 
Mister)  was  a  genuine  philosopher,  and  in  Edward 
Vaughen's  "third  floor,  hall  back"  he  often  dis 
coursed  in  the  wisest  way.  The  rocker  was  his 
favorite  seat,  and  when  Faber  wasn't  present  Mr. 
Singleton  added  to  his  comfort  by  making  a  foot  rest 
of  the  other  chair. 

He  had  a  history  as  well  as  romance,  the  romance 
accounting  for  his  being  at  Mrs.  Gubbins's  and  un 
married.  The  history  he  kept  to  himself.  There 
was  a  little  packet  of  letters,  yellow,  faded,  in  a  girl's 
handwriting,  securely  locked  in  a  tin  cash  box  which 


THE   REAL   DR.    DISNEY.  237 

he  kept  in  one  of  his  bureau  drawers ;  but  whatever 
was  written  in  these  letters  only  Mr.  Singleton  knew. 

"  You  ask,"  he  said  one  evening,  turning  to  the 
bed,  where  Edward  was  sitting  in  his  free  and  easy 
way,  "  why  there  are  so  many  failures  in  business. 
The  reason  is  simple.  It  is  not  the  business  that 
fails,  it  is  the  men." 

"  As  a  remark,  that  sounds  well,  but  I  confess  I 
don't  understand  it,"  Edward  said,  pleasantly,  for  by 
this  time  he  was  on  quite  familiar  terms  with  Mr. 
Singleton. 

"  Then  let  me  illustrate.  Some  people,  I  am  sadly 
aware,  must  have  things  made  very  simple  so  that 
they  can  understand  them.  Hence  I  proceed. 
There  is  a  certain  fish  which,  because  it  has  pectoral 
fins  of  unusual  strength  and  size,  assumes  that  it  can 
fly.  At  times,  therefore,  it  leaps  out  of  the  water, 
just  to  show  how  superior  it  is  to  the  other  fishes  not 
so  endowed.  But  sooner  or  later  that  leap  is  a  sad 
one,  for  the  real  birds  of  the  sea  are  watching  for  it. 
The  result  is  that  before  the  poor,  vain  thing  can  fold 
its  wings  and  drop  back  to  its  natural  place  it  is 
caught.  True,  the  fish  becomes  fowl ;  only,  however, 
after  a  process  of  mastication." 

"  Now,  if  you  will  only  illustrate  your  illustration 
or  explain  your  explanation  I  shall  be  much  obliged," 
said  Edward,  pulling  up  one  of  the  pillows  which 
had  fallen  down,  and  trying  to  make  himself  more 
comfortable. 

"  Very  good.  Line  upon  line,  precept  upon  pre 
cept.  *  There  are  those  to  whom  even  the  alphabet 
has  to  be  graduated.  So  I  go  on.  The  seal  lives 


238  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

partly  on  land,  but  mostly  in  water.  But  the  seal 
makes  the  mistake  of  its  life  in  ever  leaving  the 
water.  If  it  knew  the  first  thing  of  grace  of  attitude 
or  poetry  of  motion  it  would  forever  abandon  all 
claim  to  feet  and  content  itself  with  swimming. 
Now,  the  seal,  in  its  silly  desire  to  do  something 
which  it  never  was  intended  to  do,  had  to  exhibit 
itself  on  the  rocks  and  ice  as  a  champion  walker. 
The  consequence  was  that  men  saw  what  a  fine  coat 
it  had  ;  so  since  then  it  has  been  skinned  without 
mercy." 

"  What  on  earth  have  seals  and  flying  fish  to  do 
with  my  question  ?  I  should  have  thought  that — " 
Edward  was  saying. 

"Anything  in  nature  that  does  two  things  equally 
well  is  a  freak,  and  does  both  things  badly,"  Mr.  Sin 
gleton  said,  calmly  ignoring  the  interruption,  then 
proceeding  with : 

"  What  need  was  there  of  Melton  <fc  Tweed  going 
into  real  estate  operations  ?  None  whatever.  They 
had  a  first-rate  clothing  business  and  were  making  a 
good  living.  But  the  fish  would  fly,  and  in  one  of 
its  leaps  landed  in  the  Bankrupt  Court." 

Edward  was  now  beginning  to  see  the  drift  of  Mr. 
Singleton's  mind.  He  listened,  therefore,  all  the 
more  intently  as  the  philosopher  went  on. 

"The  same  thing  happened  to  Herring  &  Salt. 
As  ship  chandlers  they  stood  well  on  Water  Street. 
But  the  seals  had  to  get  on  the  rocks.  So  they  dab 
bled  in  Western  lands  and  two  or  three  other  things ; 
hence  their  handsome  skins  now  adorn  other  but 
shrewder  men.  Mr.  Edward  Vaughen,  do  you  see  ? " 


THE   REAL   DR.    DISNEY.  239 

At  another  time,  as  Mr.  Singleton  and  Edward 
were  having  one  of  their  after-dinner  chats,  Mr.  Sin 
gleton  asked : 

"  Yaughen,  how  many  of  us  are  in  this  room  ? " 

"  Only  ourselves,"  Edward  answered,  in  an  amused 
way,  for  Mr.  Singleton  had  been  discoursing  of 
psychology,  and,  as  is  not  unusual  in  such  cases,  had 
got  out  of  sight  of  land. 

"  Correct,  my  friend ;  only  just  define  what  you 
mean  by  ( ourselves.'  " 

"  I  mean  you,  Mr.  Singleton  ;  myself,  Edward 
Yaughen." 

" '  Mr.  Singleton '  and  l  Mr.  Yaughen '  are  merely 
visiting  cards.  My  body,  which  you  are  doing  me 
the  favor  of  accommodating  with  this  chair,  is  only 
an  envelope.  You  have  not  yet  made  my  acquaint 
ance.  I  don?t  know  anything  whatever  of  you.  The 
man  who  is  sitting  in  this  chair  is  a  man  whom  you 
have  never  met ;  the  man  who  is  sitting  on  that  bed 
is  a  total  stranger  to  me." 

In  an  indirect  way  these  conversations  relate  to 
Dr.  Disney,  though  it  may  be  noticed  that  his  name 
was  not  mentioned,  neither  did  either  of  the  speakers 
have  him  in  mind. 

Things  were  not  going  well  with  Dr.  Disney. 
Some  of  his  plans,  plans  upon  which  he  had  spent 
much  care,  were  not  working  out  as  he  had  hoped. 

So  far  as  actual  money  was  concerned — that  is, 
money  for  the  general  needs  of  life — Dr.  Disney 
should  have  been  one  of  the  easiest  men  in  New  York. 
Mrs.  Disney  had  a  good  income,  for  her  father's  in 
vestments  were  all  interest-bearing.  Madge  and 


240  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

John  were  also  well  provided  for  under  their  grand 
father's  will.  His  own  practice  was  large,  and  one 
of  the  best  paying  in  the  city.  But  Dr.  Disney  was 
not  satisfied.  To  use  Mr.  Singleton's  figures,  it  was 
another  instance  of  the  flying  fish  or  the  walking 
seal.  Hence  he  went  into  all  sorts  of  schemes.  He 
had  almost  a  mania  for  speculation.  He  dabbled  in 
nearly  everything.  Cotton,  grain,  railroads,  gas, 
mines,  quarries,  were  taken  up  one  after  the  other, 
and  though  the  doctor  would  have  been  terribly 
shocked  had  he  heard  it,  yet  he  was  spoken  of  by 
those  who  operated  for  him  as  a  confirmed  gambler. 
Some  of  his  ventures  turned  out  well,  upon  which  he 
went  into  others  which  turned  out  badly.  Then  he 
became  reckless.  He  increased  his  holdings.  To 
carry  all  that  he  was  doing  required  a  good  deal  of 
money.  So  he  was  forced  to  borrow,  and  borrow 
largely.  This  meant  accommodation  notes,  and  as 
he  could  not  ask  certain  men  to  indorse  his  paper 
without  being  willing  to  indorse  in  return,  his  liabili 
ties  one  way  and  another  were  very  heavy. 

He  had  hoped  for  relief  when  Mrs.  Disney  would 
inherit  her  portion  of  the  Haddon  estate,  but  Mr. 
Haddon  for  some  reason  so  tied  up  everything  that 
the  doctor  could  do  nothing  with  it.  Sometimes  he 
was  in  the  direst  straits,  resorting  to  all  manner  of 
expedients  to  keep  himself  afloat. 

Then  he  was  troubled  about  John.  The  silly 
notions,  as  he  thought,  of  Hugh  Dunbar  had  sadly 
interfered  with  John's  life  and  prospects.  Why 
couldn't  he  give  up  this  folly,  settle  down  properly, 
marry  Miss  Keen,  instead  of  throwing  himself  away  ? 


THE   REAL   DR.    DISNEY.  241 

Even  Madge  disappointed  him.  She  also  had 
come  under  the  Dunbar  influence,  whereas  it  had 
been  his  long-cherished  wish  for  her  to  become  a 
member  of  the  Brompton  family. 

But  did  Dr.  Disney  show  anything  of  the  anxieties 
and  disappointments  which  came  one  after  the  other 
and,  pressing  the  hidden  spring  of  his  secret  life,  passed' 
through  the  mystic  door  to  take  up  their  abode  in  his 
heart  ? 

Most  men  would  have  given  some  sign  of  the  in 
ward  unrest,  but  Dr.  Disney  was  the  same  calm, 
suave  gentleman  that  he  ever  was,  with  every  indica 
tion  of  a  spirit  at  peace  with  all  mankind. 

The  Disney  household,  with  the  exception  of  the 
doctor,  have  retired  for  the  night.  Dr.  Disney,  who 
has  had  a  very  busy  day,  is  in  his  own  room  sitting 
by  the  fire.  The  chair  he  occupies  looks  comfortable, 
for,  in  addition  to  its  own  thick  cushions,  Madge  has 
provided  pillows,  the  covers  of  which  she  embroidered 
with  her  own  dainty  hands.  The  room  is  cheerful 
and  bright,  having  not  only  the  ruddy  glow  of  the 
fire,  but  a  lamp  sending  out  a  mellow  light  from 
under  a  rich  shade.  Soft,  heavy  draperies,  oriental 
in  pattern  and  material,  hang  from  the  windows.  A 
massive  but  inviting-looking  lounge,  upon  which  an 
afghan  of  Mrs.  Disney's  handiwork  is  thrown,  occu 
pies  a  nook  within  reach  of  the  bookcase.  On  the 
table  at  which  the  doctor  is  sitting  are  books, 
papers,  magazines,  reviews,  all  cut  and  ready  to  his 
hand. 

But  surely  this  anxious,  worn-looking  man,  sitting 
so  dejectedly  in  the  big  chair,  with  drawn  forehead, 


242  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

compressed  lips,  harassed  face,  is  not  our  Dr.  Disney  ! 
Ah !  this  is  the  real  Dr.  Disney.  At  other  times  he 
was  in  stage  costume ;  he  was  before  the  footlights ; 
he  was  merely  playing  a  part.  Here  we  see  him  as 
he  is,  as  he  sees  himself.  To-night  lie  is  going  back 
over  the  years.  Memory,  with  mysterious  mechanism, 
is  moving  slides  before  the  calcium  light  of  conscience, 
and  the  pictures  are  being  thrown  upon  the  outspread 
curtain  of  his  soul.  Sharp,  vivid,  intense,  these 
pictures  are,  and  the  figures  in  them  not  only  move, 
but  speak,  and  their  voices  are  awfully  distinct. 

He  sees  a  young  woman  of  some  twenty  years  of 
age  standing  in  the  moonlight,  but  almost  in  the 
shadow  of  her  father's  house.  Her  face  is  singularly 
winsome ;  such  a  play  of  light ;  so  much  of  real 
womanhood.  Then  he  sees  tears  gather  in  her  eyes 
and  hears  sobs  break  in  her  voice.  "No!  It  is 
impossible.  Nor  should  you  have  spoken  as  you 
have.  Walter  Disney,  I  never  thought  that  you 
would  ask  me  to  forswear  myself.  You  knew  that 
I  was  engaged  to  your  cousin,  Fred  Sauvier,  and  that 
we  are  soon  to  be  married.  Have  you  no  honor,  no 
sense  of  manhood  ? "  With  a  proud,  angry  look  she 
turned  away,  leaving  him  alone  in  the  moonlight. 

The  picture  dies  out,  but  another  instantly  takes 
its  place. 

The  scene  now  is  in  his  own  room,  three  years  after 
the  one  of  the  moonlight.  His  Cousin  Fred,  a  simple, 
honest,  but  easily  influenced  young  man,  enters,  and 
with  pale,  anxious  face  cries  out : 

"Walter,  I'm  in  great  trouble!  Can't  you  help 
me?" 


THE   REAL  DR.    DISNEY.  243 

O  how  lie  hated  Fred  Sauvier,  and  in  his  heart  had 
registered  a  cruel  vow  of  revenge ! 

"  You  indorsed  his  note  for  two  thousand  dollars. 
"Well,  what  of  it  ? " 

"  But  you  know,  Walter,  when  Grandfather  Arlow 
started  me  in  business  I  promised  him  that  I  would 
not  indorse  notes  for  anyone.  Now,  this  note  is 
due  the  day  after  to-morrow,  and  it  will  go  to  pro* 
test." 

"  Why  can't  Howell  meet  it  ? " 

"  The  people  for  whom  he  made  the  goods  have 
failed.  Howell  will  have  to  go  under  too.  If  I  had 
only  another  week  I  could  manage,  for  Bertha  has 
some  little  money  in  New  York,  but  I  can't  get  hold 
of  it  in  time." 

"  That  money  of  Bertha's  sure  of  being  on  ha»d 
next  week  ? " 

"  Sure.     She  telegraphed  the  agent  this  morning.'* 

"  Grandfather  Arlow  keeps  his  account  in  the  same 
bank  as  you  do  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  They  know  you  at  the  bank  ? " 

"  It  was  grandfather  who  introduced  me." 

"  Then  why  not  use  grandfather's  name  for  a  week  ? 
There  is  no  need  for  him  to  know.  Bertha's  money 
will  be  here  in  a  few  days,  and  the  note  could  then 
be  taken  up." 

"  But,  Walter,  that  would  be  forgery ! "  Fred  said, 
in  a  frightened  voice. 

"  Yes,  I  know,  but  men  do  it.  I  wouldn't,  though. 
There  is  some  risk  about  it — not  much,  but  some." 

Careful,  cunning  Walter  Disney !      He  pushes  a 


244  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

plank  over  to  a  drowning  man,  but  suggests  that  there 
are  nails  in  it  which  may  tear  his  fingers ! 

His  cousin  goes  out  of  the  picture,  and  he  sees 
himself  carry  to  a  typewriter  in  a  public  office  a 
letter : 

"  DEAR  SIR  :  A  note  with  your  indorsement  for 
two  thousand  dollars  will  be  presented  at  your  bank 
for  discount  to-morrow.  If  you  doubt  this  letter 
make  inquiries." 

Once  more  the  slides  dissolve.  This  time  he  is  in 
a  court-room.  His  Cousin  Fred  is  within  the  pris 
oner's  bar,  for  Mr.  Arlow  had  instantly  telegraphed 
his  bankers,  with  the  result  that  Fred  Sauvier  was 
arrested  for  forgery.  Now  he  hears  the  sentence, 
"  Fifteen  years ! "  also  a  woman's  heart-broken  cry  ; 
then  he  knows  that  his  cousin's  wife  has  fainted  in 
the  courtroom. 

Another  slide  is  noiselessly  moved  along  the  holder. 
A  stern,  pitiless  woman,  with  a  face  set  as  iron  and 
terrible  as  fate,  looks  implacably  into  his. 

"  Walter  Disney,  you  tempted  my  husband.  You 
suggested  the  crime  which  has  broken  his  heart, 
desolated  our  home,  and  ruined  the  lives  of  two  infant 
children.  You  have  the  curse  of  the  man  you  have 
murdered,  for  he  is  now  dying  of  remorse  and  shame. 
You  have  the  curse  of  the  woman  whose  soul  you 
have  destroyed,  for  I  shall  hate  you  eternally.  You 
have  the  curse  of  my  children,  for  I  will  train  them 
up  to  curse  you.  Walter  Disney,  if  there  is  a  God 
in  the  universe,  and  if  there  is  justice  with  him,  a 
judgment  will  come  to  you." 


THE   REAL   DR.    DISNEY.  245 

The  picture  slowly  faded  out,  leaving  him  with  a 
face  as  the  ashes  in  the  grate  and  his  forehead  beaded 
with  soul  tears.  Then  he  rose  to  his  feet,  almost 
staggered  across  the  room,  opened  a  small  case,  took 
out  a  tiny  bottle,  poured  into  a  glass  a  few  drops  of 
some  powerful  drug,  which  he  diluted  with  water 
before  drinking,  and  soon  after  was  fast  asleep. 


246  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Madge   is  Worldly  Wise. 

7"f  S  the  nephew  of  Mark  Brompton,  but  per- 
r— I  haps  still  more  as  the  friend  of  John  Disney, 
J[  it  was  inevitable  that  Edward  Vaughen  should 
soon  find  place  in  the  social  life  of  New  York. 

At  first  Mrs.  Brompton  was  not  over  pleased  at 
meeting  the  young  man  so  frequently ;  still  he  was 
such  a  nice,  gentlemanly  fellow,  never  in  the  least 
presuming  upon  his  relationship ;  so  her  resentment 
materially  declined.  Indeed,  there  were  times  when 
she  was  almost  sorry  that  she  had  been  so  anxious 
in  the  matter  of  his  downtown  lodgings,  once  even 
hinting  to  Mr.  Brompton  that  his  nephew  might  re- 
enter  their  household,  but  Mr.  Brompton  did  not 
accept  the  suggestion.  The  present  arrangement 
suited  Mark  Brompton,  for  it  gave  Mr.  Keen  the 
impression  that  Edward  was  simply  a  poor  country 
relation  who  had  to  be  provided  for.  So  long,  there 
fore,  as  lie  remained  in  the  family  of  Mrs.  Gubbins 
it  was  ample  proof  that  the  relationship  between 
uncle  and  nephew  was  one  of  mere  blood,  and  noth 
ing  more. 

If  Edward  had  been  awkward,  gawky,  unused  to 
the  ways  of  society,  dull,  stupid,  everlastingly  in 
people's  way,  possibly  Mrs.  Brompton  might  not 
have  been  so  willing  to  give  him  a  place  in  her  fam 
ily.  But  that  is  no  concern  of  ours.  To  look  too 


MADGE   IS  WORLDLY  WISE.  247 

closely  into  a  kindness  is  as  bad  as  to  submit  a  gift 
horse  to  a  dental  inspection. 

"  Well,  mj  young  friend,  you  seem  to  be  going  out 
quite  a  good  deal  these  days,"  Mr.  Singleton  said  one 
evening,  as  he  saw  Edward  take  out  his  "  claw  ham 
mer"  and  proceed  to  array  himself  in  evening  dress. 

Edward  smiled  and  nodded,  after  which  he  went 
over  to  the  mirror  on  the  bureau  to  enter  upon 
the  soul-distressing  concern  of  tying  his  necktie. 

"  You  have  heard  Madame  Screechoni  warble  ? " 

Edward  confessed  that  he  had  heard  Madame 
Screechoni  make  some  extraordinary  noises ;  the 
warbling  he  would  not  vouch  for. 

"  You  have  seen  the  performance  of  the  eminent 
Digitaliski  ? " 

"  Why  do  you  say  '  seen  ? ' "  Edward  asked,  even 
ing  the  ends  of  his  tie,  so  that  it  would  not  hang  lop 
sided,  as  it  was  disposed  to  do. 

"  Because  the  hearing,  in  the  case  of  Digitaliski,  is 
of  small  moment  compared  with  the  seeing.  People 
get  up  on  the  seats.  They  crowd  around  the  instru 
ment.  The  whole  thing  is  an  exhibition." 

Edward  was  now  having  trouble  with  his  cuff  but 
tons.  The  cuffs  were  stiff  as  sheet  iron.  The  but 
tons  were  of  the  old-fashioned  order,  solid  and  good, 
but  not  amenable  to  kindness. 

"Then  you  have  properly  admired  the  work  of 
Signer  Paletto  ?  "  Mr.  Singleton  questioned  as  with 
an  amused  but  sympathetic  smile  he  watched  Ed 
ward  labor  with  the  cuff  buttons. 

"  Hang  Signer  Paletto !  If  he  would  only  wash 
his  face  and  comb  his  hair — " 


248  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

"  In  that  case  you  would  remove  his  chief  claims 
to  distinction.  Ah !  now  that  you  have  those  cuff 
buttons  disposed  of,  you  will  be  more  kindly." 

The  average  man  when  he  is  working  his  way  into 
evening  dress  prefers  to  have  his  room  all  to  him 
self,  for  there  are  certain  gestures,  not  to  speak  of 
phrases  and  terms,  which  he  enjoys  most  in  solitude. 
But  Mr.  Singleton  was  not  only  a  philosopher ;  he 
was  the  head  of  a  department  in  Keen  &  Sharp's. 

"The  other  evening  you  met  the  Winks,  the 
Jinks,  and  the  Blinks  contingents.  This  evening 
you  will  meet  the  same  people,  only  the  order  of  the 
procession  will  be  changed.  Also  some  of  the 
women's  gowns.  But  that  is  all  there  is  of  it.  When 
you  are  as  old  as  I  am  you  will  have  got  through 
Winking  and  Blinking  and  Jinking.  Still  you  are  not 
a  bad-looking  fellow.  Going  to  Yon  der  Plonk's  ? " 

Mr.  Singleton  on  going  to  his  room  locked  the 
door,  opened  the  little  cash  box,  took  out  reverently 
the  packet  of  faded  letters,  and  read  until  after  mid 
night.  In  the  office  of  Keen  &  Sharp  lie  was  one 
of  their  most  capable  managers ;  in  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Gubbins  he  was  a  genial,  cynical  philosopher ;  but 
in  his  own  room  he  was  Ben  Singleton,  whose 
sweetheart  had  died  nearly  twenty  years  ago,  but  to 
whose  memory  he  was  ever  loyal. 

Being  in  the  same  set  with  the  Keens,  Edward 
quite  often  met  Miss  Keen,  and  after  a  time  they 
began  to  look  for  each  other  at  the  different  func 
tions.  On  entering  a  room,  as  soon  almost  as  he 
had  paid  his  respects  to  the  hostess  (the  host  in 
these  matters  is  not  usually  of  much  consequence)} 


MADGE   IS  WORLDLY  WISE.  249 

Edward  would  glance  quickly  around,  and  though  he 
was  wise  enough  not  to  show  it,  still  a  deeper,  glad 
der  light  would  flash  in  his  eyes  if  he  saw  Miss  Keen 
anywhere  in  the  company.  And  then  there  would 
pass  between  them  some  mysterious  sign  of  recogni 
tion,  a  smile  of  the  broken  sixpence  order,  divided 
about  evenly. 

When  they  had  opportunity  to  speak  with  each 
other  it  was  not  so  much  what  was  said  which  made 
their  conversation  interesting,  but  rather  an  under 
tone  of  sympathetic  relationship.  Once  in  a  crush 
at  the  Bromptons',  when  the  young  people  were  glad 
for  a  little  while  to  sit  on  the  stairs,  Edward  managed 
to  get  on  the  same  step  with  Miss  Keen.  By  ac 
cident  their  hands  touched,  but  somehow  that  touch 
made  Edward's  blood  fairly  tingle.  Miss  Keen  pos 
sibly  had  herself  in  more  perfect  control ;  still  there 
was  a  look  on  her  face  which  was  not  there  before. 

Knowing  of  the  close  business  relations  between 
Mr.  Brompton  and  Mr.  Keen,  also  that  Edward 
Vaughen  was  Mark  Brompton's  nephew,  the  Go- 
thainites  generally  allowed  the  young  people  a  fair 
measure  of  latitude. 

Still  there  were  those  who  studied  the  situation 
with  much  interest. 

"  John,"  said  Madge,  after  this  gathering  at  the 
Von  der  Plonks',  for  which  we  saw  Edward  array 
himself,  when  they  were  having  one  of  their  confiden 
tial  confabs,  "  have  you  observed  how  very  devoted 
the  '  unearned  increment '  is  to  Rhea  Keen  ?  " 

"  No, "  answered  John,  going  over  to  the  rack 
for  his  pipe,  for  this  was  John's  snuggery. 


250  DWELLERS    IN   GOTHAM. 

"  Well,  I  have,"  said  Madge,  unfastening  her 
gloves,  and  making  herself  very  much  at  home  in 
what  John  called  "  Madge's  chair." 

"  You  must  admit,"  replied  John,  going  on  with 
the  tilling  of  his  pipe,  a  work  with  him  of  some  delib 
eration,  "  that  Edward  Yanghen  has  good  taste,  for 
Miss  Keen  is  a  very  attractive  girl." 

"  The  taste  I  am  prepared  to  admit,  for  Hhea  Keen, 
to  my  thinking,  is  one  of  the  few  really  beautiful 
women  in  our  set.  The  judgment,  however,  I  am 
disposed  to  question." 

"  In  what  way  ? "  asked  John,  now  prepared  to  go 
into  the  question  on  its  merits,  for  his  pipe  was  well 
started,  his  chair  was  just  at  the  right  distance  from 
the  fire,  and  there  were  few  things  he  more  thor 
oughly  enjoyed  than  a  bright,  breezy  chat  with  his 
lively  sister. 

"  Edward  Yaughen  has  no  money,"  Madge  an 
swered  in  a  tone  of  profound  conviction,  emphasizing 
her  statement  of  plain  fact  by  a  look  of  almost  un 
natural  seriousness. 

"And  what  has  that  to  do  with  it?"  John  .asked, 
with  an  air  of  genuine  surprise,  for  Madge  was 
usually  free  from  mercenary  motives. 

"A  great  deal.  Mr.  Keen  has  other  plans  for 
Rhea.  He  is  one  of  the  most  ambitious  men  in  the 
city.  Mark  my  words,"  this  with  great  impressive- 
ness,  the  emphasis  strengthened  by  a  fairly  vigorous 
use  of  the  right  hand,  in  which  Madge  held  her 
gloves,  "when  Mr.  Keen  begins  to  suspect  anything 
lie  will  put  a  stop  to  it  in  short  order." 

"But  Yaughen  isn't  going  to  marry  Mr.  Keen, 


MADGE    IS   WORLDLY   WISE.  251 

nor  Miss  Keen  either,  for  that  matter,  for  he  is  only 
beginning,  and  probably  hardly  earns  enough  to  pay 
his  way.  But  why  Mr.  Keen  should  interfere  does 
not  just  occur  to  me." 

It  must  be  confessed  that  John  was  a  little  bit  dis 
appointed  at  the  worldly  wisdom  of  his  sister. 

"  It  will  occur  to  you  before  long,  for  I  tell  you, 
John  Disney,  that  Mr.  Keen  will  interfere,  and  that, 
too,  in  the  most  vigorous  way." 

This  time  Madge  brought  down  the  gloves  on  the 
palm  of  her  left  hand  with  considerable  energy. 

"  And  yet  why  should  he  ? "  persisted  John  after  a 
few  moments'  silence,  during  which  time  he  nursed 
his  pipe  into  a  state  of  more  visible  combustion. 
"  Edward  Yaughen  is  a  clean,  honest,  manly  fellow. 
He  comes  of  a  good  family.  He  is  a  thoroughbred. 
I  know  him  through  and  through.  Now,  simply  be 
cause  he  hasn't  yet  '  made  his  pile,'  why  a  man  like 
Keen  will  throw  him  over  and  give  his  daughter  to 
some  man  without  honor  or  character  to  me  is  not 
merely  incomprehensible,  but — " 

."  That  may  be,  John,  but  Mr.  Keen  is  no  worse 
than  other  men.  You  remember  how  Mr.  Blobbs 
interfered  between  Fanny  and  Sidney  Davenant,  so 
that  finally  everything  was  broken  off,  Fanny  at 
length  marrying  Mr.  Hyde,  the  rich  leather  man, 
who  was  old  enough  to  be  her  grandfather." 

"  Yes,  I  remember  it,  and  Fanny  Blobbs  was  a 
fool  for  doing  it.  There  are  times  when  a  daughter 
owes  something  to  herself.  When  a  woman  does 
what  Fanny  Blobbs  did  I  am  not  certain  that  even 
'  fool '  is  strong  enough  to  cover  the  case.  I  know 
17 


252  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

Sidney  Davenant,  and  if  Fanny  Lad  married  him 
she  would  have  been  a  much  happier  woman  than  she 
is  now.  I  met  her  the  other  day ;  it  was  on  Fifth 
Avenue  near  Madison  Square.  I  hardly  knew  her, 
she  was  so  pale  and  old-looking.  But  I  have  no 
sympathy  to  waste  on  her." 

Nevertheless  in  his  heart  John  pitied  Fanny 
Blobbs,  though  he  was  provoked  with  her. 

"  That  is  all  very  well,  John,  but  what  else  could 
Fanny  do  ?  Sidney  Davenant  had  nothing  to  offer  her, 
and,  brought  up  as  she  had  been,  it  would  have  been 
folly  for  her  to  think  of  making  a  home  with  him." 

"  Nothing  to  offer  her !  A  healthy,  wholesome,  strap 
ping  fellow,  with  a  heart  full  of  love,  a  mind  full  of 
ambitions,  and  a  future  as  certain  as  to-morrow's  sun. 
Do  these  things  count  for  nothing  in  the  esteem  of  such 
women  as  Fanny  Blobbs  ?  What  had  old  Hyde  to  offer 
her?  A  big  warehouse  full  of  leather,  and  when 
you  have  said  that  you  have  said  all  there  is  to  say." 

"Meantime,  what  of  Edward  Yaughen  and  Rhea 
Keen?"  Madge  asked,  for  they  were  more  on  her 
mind  than  Fanny  Blobbs  and  her  leather  man. 

"  The  best  thing  is  to  let  them  manage  this  business 
themselves.  It  may  not  be  as  serious  as  you  think. 
Vaughen  is  disposed  to  be  romantic.  He  always  was. 
As  for  Miss  Keen,  she  knows  what  she  is  doing. 
You  need  have  no  anxiety  on  her  account.  But  I 
hope  Yaughen  won't  get  in  beyond  his  depth.  You 
don't  meet  fellows  of  his  type  every  day." 

"But,  John,  it  seems  to  me  you  are  prejudiced 
against  Rhea  Keen.  Now,  you  stand  up  for  Edward 
Yaughen,  so  I  mean  to  do  the  same  by  Rhea." 


MADGE   IS  WORLDLY  WISE.  253 

"That  is  right,  Madge,  but  Miss  Keen  can  get 
along  without  any  special  help.  She  may  do  any 
amount  of  high  thinking,  but  not  much  plain  living ; 
and  if  it  comes  to  a  choice  as  between  Edward 
Yaughen  and  shekels  she  will  take  the  shekels." 

"  John,  you  are  mistaken." 

"  Madge,  I  don't  think  I  am." 

And  so  they  separated,  each  convinced  that  the 
other  was  wrong. 

"  Rhea,"  said  Mr.  Keen  that  same  evening,  after 
their  return  from  the  Von  der  Plonks,  "  that  clerk 
of  mine  seems  disposed  to  be  quite  friendly.  I 
noticed  him  fairly  attentive  to  you." 

"  You  refer  to  Mr.  Yaughen  ? "  said  Rhea. 

"I  mean  Mr.  Yaughen,  of  course,"  Mr.  Keen  re 
sponded,  with  an  irritation  which  was  very  palpable. 

"You  would  not  expect  me  to  be  rude  to  Mr. 
Brompton's  nephew?"  Rhea  answered,  an  answer 
which  fully  justified  John  Disney's  remark  that  she 
was  perfectly  able  to  take  care  of  herself. 

"  There  is  a  very  great  difference  between  rude 
ness  and  encouragement,"  Mr.  Keen  replied,  for  he 
felt  that  his  daughter  had  discovered  the  weak  place 
in  his  armor. 

"Papa,"  said  Rhea,  "when  Mr.  Brompton's 
nephew  is  considerate  enough  to  treat  me  as  a  lady 
expects  to  be  treated  by  a  gentleman  am  I  to  reward 
him  by  intentional  discourtesy  ? " 

"You  are  altogether  too  provoking,"  said  Mr.  Keen, 
now  quite  angry,  for  he  saw  that  he  was  overmatched. 

"  Not  provoking  at  all.  Merely  definite  and  prac 
tical,"  answered  Rhea,  and  the  conversation  ended. 


254  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

The  Mysterious  Consultation. 

NEW  curate  had  come  to  St.  Elijah's ;  conse- 
quently  Miss  Pollok's  heart  beat  high  with 
hope,  for  though  he  was  of  a  certain  maturity 
of  years  he  was  unmarried.  And  now  that  the 
brewer's  widow  was  no  longer  in  the  way,  who  knows 
what  may  happen  ?  Miss  Pollok  determined,  there 
fore,  to  resume  some,  if  not  all,  of  her  former  duties, 
and  as  a  first  step  in  this  noble  resolve  she  entered  vig 
orously  into  the  work  of  the  chapel  Sunday  school.  It 
was,  of  course,  a  mere  coincidence  that  the  new  curate 
was  in  charge  at  the  chapel.  But  such  enthusiasm  as 
hers  could  not  be  restrained  in  any  formal  service. 
Hence  she  attacked  the  piano  in  the  parlor  of  Mrs. 
Gubbins,  and  with  its  help  voiced  her  joy  and  hope  in 
wondrous  melody. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  the  effect  on  the  .house 
hold  was  somewhat  depressing,  and  Miss  Pollok  had 
the  parlor  all  to  herself.  Her  heroic  attempts  to  reach 
the  altitudinous  termination  of  "The  Maiden's 
Prayer "  deserved  recognition,  and  the  pathos  with 
which  she  gave  "  O  Promise  Me  "  was  unmistakable. 
Still  the  parlor  remained  a  sacred  inclosure,  across 
whose  portals  none  would  dare  to  step. 

The  artist,  ever  the  true  gentleman,  occupied  the 
room  overhead.  No  sooner  did  Miss  Pollok  begin 
"  Some  Day,  Somewhere "  than  he  would  move 


THE   MYSTERIOUS   CONSULTATION.  255 

softly  to  and  fro,  lest  he  might  disturb  her,  after 
which  he  would  be  seen  on  the  stairs,  stepping  quietly 
down,  then  going  out,  not  to  return  for  some  hours. 

Mr.  Wright,  who  had  the  room  next  to  that  of  the 
artist,  was  not  so  fine  in  his  grain,  for  he  would 
tramp  about  in  the  most  reckless  way,  finally  pound 
ing  down  stairs,  and  pulling  the  door  after  him  with 
an  energy  entirely  unnecessary. 

Mr.  Faber,  being  on  the  floor  higher  up,  could  not 
hear  with  the  same  distinctness  as  either  Mr.  Wright 
or  the  artist ;  and  as  there  is  nothing  more  tantalizing 
to  a  fine  musical  taste  than  to  get  only  snatches  and 
stray  measures,  he  would  close  his  door,  preferring 
to  shut  the  music  out  altogether  when  he  could  not 
have  it  in  its  completeness. 

Mr.  Singleton  was  not  musical  at  all — philosophers 
seldom  are.  He  therefore  spoke  of  the  performance 
in  the  parlor  in  a  way  that  was  certainly  irreverent, 
if  not  profane. 

As  for  Edward  Vaughen,  when  he  had  a  spare 
evening  now  and  then  he  devoted  most  of  it  to  writ 
ing  to  his  mother,  but  Miss  Pollok's  music  was 
neither  soothing  nor  inspiring.  He  kept  on  bravely, 
but  when  he  wrote,  "  the  thing  is  horrible,"  right  in 
the  midst  of  a  description  of  a  dress  which  Madge 
Disney  had  worn  the  night  before,  one  that  he  par 
ticularly  admired,  and  at  another  time  put  in,  "  will 
she  never  stop  ?"  when  he  was  referring  to  the  gath 
ering  at  the  Yon  der  Plonks',  he  thought  it  wise  to 
give  up  writing  for  that  evening.  Accordingly  he 
put  his  papers  aside,  pulled  on  his  overcoat,  and  went 
out,  slowly  and  carefully,  however,  for  Edward  was 


256  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

too  considerate  to  disturb  Miss  Pollok,  who  just 
then  was  plaintively  warbling  "  Left  Blooming 
Alone." 

Having  been  uptown  quite  a  good  deal  in  the 
evenings,  Edward  thought  that  a  walk  through  the 
business  section  would  afford  him  the  opportunity  of 
contrasting  the  busy  day  with  the  silent  night,  and  at 
the  same  time  furnish  a  new  experience. 

It  was  about  nine  o'clock.  With  anything  like 
rapid  walking  he  could  be  at  the  Battery  at  ten. 
There  he  had  a  choice  of  a  cable  car  or  the  "  Ele 
vated,"  returning  in  good  season  to  finish  his  letter. 

The  night  was  fairly  cold,  though  not  rough  and 
blustering,  as  it  sometimes  is  in  New  York  about 
mid  v>  inter.  It  was  one  of  those  still,  quiet  nights 
when  the  stars  hang  low  in  the  heavens  and  sparkle 
wondrously  in  the  frosty  air. 

With  his  fur  cap  pulled  well  down  on  his  head, 
his  ulster  buttoned  up  to  his  chin,  his  hands  in 
heavy  gloves  and  swinging  at  his  side,  Edward  strode 
along  most  joyously.  And  why  not  ?  Was  he  not 
just  crossing  the  threshold  of  young  manhood  and 
entering  upon  the  very  fullness  of  life?  With  a 
magnificent  physique  worthy  of  a  young  Apollo; 
with  blood  throbbing  and  tingling  in  exuberant 
health  ;  with  hopes  that  stretched  out  before  him  as 
clearly  as  the  street  upon  which  he  walked,  why 
should  he  not  stride  along  in  all  the  vigor  and  daring 
of  youth  ? 

How  quiet  and  almost  deserted  Broadway  was  as 
Edward  walked  along !  What  a  sharp  contrast  with 
the  earlier  hours  of  the  day !  In  the  forenoon  the 


THE   MYSTERIOUS   CONSULTATION.  257 

crowds  keep  growing,  until  one  wonders  where  all 
the  people  come  from.  How  difficult  it  is  to  make 
our  way,  and  how  much  more  difficult  to  cross  the 
street !  The  endless  procession  of  vehicles,  or,  rather, 
the  double  procession — for  there  is  a  stream  going  up 
as  well  as  one  going  down — causes  some  lively  and 
even  daring  movements  on  the  part  of  those  who 
must  pass  from  one  side  of  the  street  to  the  other. 
The  wonder  is  not  that  so  many  people  come  to  grief, 
but  how  few ;  for  we  are  a  reckless  folk,  taking  all 
manner  of  chances  to  save  a  minute's  time. 

And  when  we  are  in  the  region  of  City  Hall, 
where  the  Brooklyn  stream  coming  and  going  from 
the  Bridge  falls  in  with  the  streams  coming  and  go 
ing  from  the  Jersey  ferries,  what  an  amazing  number 
of  people  are  going  either  our  way  or  the  other  way  ! 

But  Edward  could  walk  now  as  rapidly  as  he 
pleased,  for  the  crowds  had  utterly  disappeared.  The 
only  signs  of  active  life  were  in  Newspaper  Row, 
where  lights  were  streaming  from  the  windows  in  the 
tall  buildings  and  the  papers  were  being  prepared  for 
the  morrow. 

So  deeply  did  Edward  feel  the  contrast  that  he  re 
solved  to  go  down  to  the  street  where  Keen  &  Sharp 
had  their  offices,  so  he  turned  off  Broadway  at  Wall 
Street  and  walked  through  to  the  street  where  these 
offices  were.  How  quiet  everything  was !  He  could 
hardly  realize  that  these  were  the  same  streets 
through  which  he  had  walked  only  a  few  hours  be 
fore.  They  seemed  uncanny.  It  was  unnatural  that 
they  should  be  so  empty  and  still.  Edward  felt  as  if 
he  were  in  a  dream. 


258  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

The  high  buildings  lifted  themselves  into  the  silent 
night  like  the  walls  of  some  mighty  fortress,  with 
doors  securely  bolted  and  barred.  He  looked  for  the 
crowds  of  eager,  anxious  men,  but  none  could  be 
seen.  He  listened  for  the  noises  of  the  beating  foot 
steps,  but  none  could  be  heard.  The  arena  was  de 
serted.  The  gladiators  had  retired.  The  amphi 
theater  was  empty.  The  hope,  the  eagerness,  the 
ambition,  the  strife,  which  during  the  day  were  so 
manifest,  had  departed.  Nothing  remained  but 
shadows. 

He  soon  came  to  the  building  of  which  Keen  & 
Sharp  occupied  the  first  floor,  intending  to  simply 
glance  at  it  and  pass  on,  but  seeing  a  bright  light  in 
the  inner  office  he  went  over  and  looked  in.  This 
he  did  not  out  of  curiosity  merely,  for  he  remem 
bered  Mr.  Singleton  telling  him  that  during  excit 
ing  times  on  the  "  Street "  the  partners  would  remain 
in  the  office  all  night  planning  for  the  strife  of  the 
coming  day.  But  to  his  surprise,  on  glancing 
through  the  window,  he  saw  not  only  Mr.  Keen  and 
Mr.  Sharp,  but  Dr.  Disney.  Dr.  Disney  evidently 
had  just  arrived,  for,  though  his  hat  was  on  the  table 
at  which  the  stenographer  usually  sat,  he  had  not  re 
moved  his  overcoat,  and  was  standing,  taking  off  his 
gloves  in  that  graceful,  deliberate  way  in  which  he 
did  everything. 

What  this  visit  meant  Edward  could  not  possibly 
imagine.  Of  all  men  Dr.  Disney,  and  at  this  hour  ! 
He  had  never  heard  Dr.  Disney's  name  mentioned  in 
the  office.  So  far  as  Edward  knew,  it  was  not  on  the 
books  of  the  firm.  He  could  not,  therefore,  connect 


THE  MYSTERIOUS  CONSULTATION.  259 

him  with  any  movement  or  speculation  in  which 
Keen  &  Sharp  would  be  likely  to  engage.  Surely  he 
was  not  there  on  professional  business.  Edward  was 
completely  nonplused. 

The  clock  on  old  Trinity  now  struck  ten,  and  as 
Edward  was  too  much  of  a  gentleman  to  wait  or  spy, 
he  went  back  through  "Wall  Street  out  to  Broadway. : 
He  admitted  that  the  circumstance  was  a  strange  one. 
Seeing  Mr.  Keen  reminded  him  of  Rhea,  though  he 
did  not  require  such  remembrance,  and  as  he  went  up 
town  in  a  cable  car  it  was  Rhea  he  thought  of.  Still 
now  and  then  he  wondered  at  seeing  Dr.  Disney  in 
the  office  at  that  hour. 

"  The  situation  is  critical,  but  the  chances  are  in 
our  favor,"  Mr.  Keen  said,  in  reply  to  a  question  of 
Dr.  Disney. 

"  I  had  hoped  that  by  this  time  our  chances  would 
have  become  certainties,"  answered  the  doctor. 

"And  they  would,"  put  in  Mr.  Sharp,  "  but  there 
was  some  countermining  on  the  part  of  the  enemy." 

"  You  mean  by  this  that  some  other  parties  are 
after  the  same  combination  ? "  questioned  the  doctor, 
a  shade  of  very  perceptible  anxiety  crossing  his  face. 

"  That  is  just  what  I  mean,"  replied  Mr.  Sharp. 
"And  the  trouble  is,  we  cannot  find  to  what  extent 
the  countermining  has  been  carried  on." 

"  Then  the  chances  are  not  so  distinctly  in  ow  favor 
as  Mr.  Keen  seems  to  imply  ? "  was  the  doctor's  next 
question,  the  anxiety  deepening  on  his  face  and  even 
sounding  in  his  voice. 

"  Mr.  Keen  is  very  hopeful ;  more  so,  naturally, 
than  I  am.  This  is  a  big  scheme.  If  it  goes  through 


260  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

all  right  we  will  make  a  whole  pot  of  money.  But  I 
have  had  my  doubts  all  along." 

Mr.  Sharp  pulled  out  a  drawer  in  the  desk  close  at 
his  hand,  took  from  it  a  cigar,  but  did  not  light  it, 
contenting  himself  with  holding  it  in  his  mouth  and 
chewing  the  end  in  a  way  that  was  more  vigorous 
than  picturesque. 

"  Have  you  any  suspicions  as  to  who  the  party  or 
parties  are  who  are  in  this  'countermining'  busi 
ness  ? " 

The  doctor  had  regained  something  of  his  com 
posure,  and  asked  this  question  in  his  usual  bland 
way. 

"  We  have,"  answered  Mr.  Keen,  "  and  that  is 
where  the  situation  is  unpleasant.  Mark  Brompton 
is  the  man  who  is  making  the  trouble." 

"  Mark  Brompton  ! "  exclaimed  Dr.  Disney,  rising 
from  his  chair  in  great  excitement.  "  How  did  he 
ever  get  hold  of  it  ? " 

"  How  does  he  get  hold  of  everything  ? "  Mr.  Keen 
said,  almost  savagely.  "  I  confess  that  he  beats  me 
even  at  my  own  game." 

"  There  was  nothing  said  in  the  office  ? "  the  doctor 
asked. 

"  Not  a  word.  We  have  kept  the  thing  a  dead 
secret.  How  Brompton  got  wind  of  it  is  more  than 
we  can  make  out."  Mr.  Sharp  spoke  with  consider 
able  emphasis,  for  he  was  plainly  anxious  as  to  the 
outcome  of  the  affair. 

"  You  have  young  Vaughen  in  your  office.  He  is 
Brompton's  nephew.  He  may  have  heard  some 
thing." 


THE   MYSTERIOUS  CONSULTATION.  26l 

Dr.  Disney  had  the  utmost  confidence  in  Keen  & 
Sharp  doing  their  best  to  keep  this  thing  a  secret. 
Still  some  one  had  played  the  spy. 

"  Yes,  Yaughen  is  with  us.  You  know  our  rela 
tions  to  Mr.  Brompton.  "Well,  he  wanted  a  place  for 
this  nephew,  so  we  made  an  opening  and  ran  him  in. 
But  he  is  not  in  Mark  Brompton's  confidence,  for  lie 
boards  somewhere  downtown,  while  Mrs.  Brompton 
gives  him  shoulder  d  lafrappe.  Besides,  he  is  not 
in  our  confidence." 

"  Is  there  anything  we  can  do  ?  Mark  Brompton 
is  dangerous.  If  he  knows  we  are  in  this  thing  he 
will  ruin  us ; "  and  as  the  doctor  spoke  his  voice  was 
husky,  so  great  was  his  anxiety. 

"  Can't  you,  as  Brompton's  physician,  tell  him  that 
he  is  overdoing  ?  "Work  some  kind  of  a  nervous  gag. 
Advise  him  to  take  a  trip  to  Europe.  Get  him  to 
give  up  business  for  a  time.  Threaten  him  with 
heart  failure,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing." 

Mr.  Sharp  made  these  suggestions  in  a  light,  flip 
pant  way,  so  that  the  doctor  might  regard  them  as 
pleasantries.  But  in  his  heart  Mr.  Sharp  was  neither 
light  nor  flippant. 

Dr.  Disney  made  no  reply.  He  could  not  make 
the  reply  which  his  professional  honor  demanded. 
These  men  held  his  signature  for  an  amount  which  he 
dare  not  lose.  Yirtually  he  was  in  their  power,  and 
so  Mr.  Sharp's  words  stung  him  almost  beyond  en 
durance.  Quick  as  lightning  his  thoughts  flashed 
back  to  that  time,  now  over  twenty  years  ago,  when 
he  suggested  an  even  greater  crime  to  one  who  came 
to  him  for  help,  and  he  could  see  the  horror-stricken 


262  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

face  of  Fred  Sauvier  as  he  answered,  "  But,  Walter, 
that  would  be  forgery  ! " 

And  now  after  all  these  years  he  is  asked  to  per 
jure  himself,  to  break  the  sacred  oath  of  his  profes 
sion,  and  for  the  sake  of  a  false,  wicked  pride  dis 
honor  his  position  as  the  trusted  adviser  of  Mark 
Brompton.  In  what  way  would  such  advice  differ 
from  the  course  of  the  midnight  thief  who  holds  the 
saturated  sponge  over  the  mouth  and  nostrils  of  the 
sleeper,  drugging  him  into  almost  deathly  uncon 
sciousness,  and  then  robbing  him  of  his  goods  ? 

And  so  it  had  come  to  this !  The  very  mention  of 
such  a  thing  was  a  crime.  But  his  lips  were  sealed, 
for  he  dare  not  break  with  Keen  &  Sharp.  There 
was  too  much  at  stake.  But  wherever  he  looked 
around  the  office  of  Keen  &  Sharp  he  saw  the  pale, 
anxious  face  of  Fred  Sauvier.  He  could  see  it  look 
ing  from  the  map  which  hung  over  one  of  the  desks. 
He  could  trace  it  in  the  rug  before  the  fireplace. 
And  with  the  face  he  could  hear,  "But,  Walter,  that 
would  be  forger}r !  " 

Nothing  more  of  any  moment  was  said,  and  just  as 
the  Trinity  Church  clock  was  striking  eleven  Dr. 
Disney  left  the  office  and  went  uptown. 


BOOK  HI-AMBITION 


JOHN    DISNEY'S   SCHEME.  265 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
John   Disney's   Scheme. 

ONCE  upon  a  time,  a  long,  long  time  ago,  there 
was  a  man  who  was  very  much  pleased  with 
himself.  He  was  also  equally  satisfied  with 
the  results  of  certain  of  his  undertakings.  He 
therefore  resolved  that  when  the  right  time  came 
he  would  go  in  for  a  regular  course  of  pleasure,  and 
enjoy  the  good  things  with  which  he  was  so  abun 
dantly  favored.  Tin  fortunately,  however,  when  the 
time  arrived  for  this  enjoyment  the  man's  energies 
and  vital  forces  had  all  been  expended,  so  that  while 
he  retained  the  desire  for  ease  and  merriment  he 
had  no  capacity  for  either.  The  consequence  was 
that  the  man  had  no  further  reason  for  living,  so  he 
died  with  an  abruptness  that  was  startling. 

Now,  here  was  Mark  Brompton,  getting  really 
nothing  out  of  life,  except  the  grim  sense  of  satisfac 
tion  which  comes  from  mastery.  In  a  hand  which 
was  like  iron  he  had  taken  the  world  by  the  throat. 
With  a  strong,  resolute  voice  he  had  demanded  pay 
ment  even  to  the  last  farthing.  And  the  world  paid 
him  in  full,  but  it  had  ample  revenge,  for  it  took 
more  out  of  him  than  he  had  taken  out  of  it.  He 
had  made  money,  but  he  had  unmade  himself.  He 
was  what  some  people  call  rich,  but  what  wiser 
people  call  poor.  What  he  had  was  not  his,  strange 
as  it  may  seem.  He  did  not  own  his  money ;  his 


266  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

money  owned  him.  lie  could  buy  pictures,  any 
number  of  them,  and  he  did  ;  but  he  had  no  soul  with 
which  to  interpret  them.  By  the  simple  writing  of 
a  check  he  could  purchase  a  whole  library,  but  the 
books  had  no  message  other  than  their  bindings. 
Music  was  not  even  the  least  distressing  of  sounds, 
for  when  Ethel  played  or  Janet  sang,  though  the  one 
played  superbly  and  the  other  had  a  rich,  vibrant 
voice,  to  him  it  was  only  unmeaning  noise. 

On  Sunday  mornings,  with  fair  regularity,  he 
went  to  church,  but  he  got  nothing  from  either 
service  or  sermon.  And  how  could  he,  for  he 
had  no  interest  whatever  in  the  things  for  which 
churches  are  presumed  to  stand  ?  He  was  not  a 
pagan,  for  he  hired  one  of  the  best  pews  in  Dr. 
Eland's  church  ;  his  name  also  appeared  well  up  on 
the  list  of  subscribers  to  missions  in  Patagonia  and 
Timbuctoo.  Such  a  thing,  however,  as  personal  re 
sponsibility  never  once  occurred  to  him.  Move 
ments  like  the  one  led  by  Mr.  Dunbar  excited  his 
hardly  disguised  contempt.  His  home  life  was  ab 
solutely  barren.  All  possibilities  of  love  and  tender 
ness  he  had  put  aside.  The  romance,  the  poetry,  the 
glad,  sweet  hopes  which  redeem  life  from  utter  sor- 
didness,  he  had  crushed  as  flowers  under  the  ruthless 
feet  of  his  ambitions.  He  treated  Mrs.  Brompton 
with  respect,  of  course,  but  in  no  way  did  she  touch 
his  heart  or  enter  the  mysterious  depths  of  his  being. 

For  his  children  he  entertained  much  the  same 
feeling  as  a  godfather  is  supposed  to  have.  He  ad 
mired  Ethel  for  her  beauty.  He  was  quite  inter 
ested  in  the  idea  of  her  marrying  young  Yon  der 


JOHN    DISNEY'S   SCHEME.  267 

Plonk.  He  liked  Janet.  Sometimes  her  frank,  fear 
less  tongue  did  not  please  him.  He  did  not  trouble 
himself  very  much  about  Percy.  Percy  was  fond  of 
yachting ;  he  cared  nothing  for  yachts.  Percy  liked 
horses,  and  would  often  go  to  the  races  ;  he  had  no  in 
terest  in  horses,  and  held  races  in  contempt.  Percy 
was  disposed  to  play  the  role  of  the  man  about  town  ; 
this  he  thought  only  a  slight  remove  from  idiocy. 

Now,  when  you  take  a  man  who  has  no  love  in 
his  heart,  no  uplifting,  inspiring  motives  in  his  soul, 
no  interests  outside  those  of  his  office,  it  is  difficult  to 
see  just  what  life  means  to  such  a  man,  or  what  pos 
sible  good  he  gets  out  of  it. 

"  Mr.  Brompton,"  said  John  Disney  one  evening 
in  Mr.  Brompton's  library,  "  I  have  come  to  ask 
your  advice  and  assistance." 

"Your  note  suggested  as  much,"  replied  Mr. 
Brompton,  but  without  any  special  encouragement 
in  his  tone.  He  liked  John  Disney,  but  there  was  a 
vein  of  romance  in  the  young  man  with  which  he 
had  small  sympathy. 

"  The  special  matter  which  prompted  me  to  solicit 
this  interview  was  that  I  might  consult  you  concern 
ing  my  own  career,"  John  answered,  with  more  hesi 
tation  than  was  usual  with  him. 

"  In  what  way  can  I  serve  you  ? "  Mr.  Bromp 
ton  spoke  just  as  he  would  in  the  office — direct, 
abrupt,  curt. 

"  I  have  concluded  to  go  into  some  kind  of  busi 
ness,  and  I  thought  you  might  help  me." 

John  was  finding  it  hard  work  to  talk  to  Mark 
Brompton.  He  had  met  him  a  number  of  times, 
18 


268  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

but  always  socially.  Now  that  he  was  talking  busi 
ness  and  asking  a  favor  the  footing  was  very  differ 
ent. 

"  Is  not  this  contrary  to  your  father's  wishes  ? 
My  understanding  was  that  you  would  enter  his  pro 
fession."  Still  not  the  least  show  of  interest ;  the 
voice  exactly  the  same  as  with  Mr.  Jones  at  his  own 
desk. 

"  My  father  was  disappointed  at  first.  Of  late, 
however,  when  we  have  talked  about  this  lie  has 
rather  favored  my  plan." 

"What  is  your  plan?" 

"I  really  haven't  any,  other  than  to  get  into 
something  which  will  give  me  an  idea  of  business, 
and  at  the  same  time  come  into  contact  with  work 
ing  people." 

Mr.  Brompton's  face  hardened.  An  unpleasant 
light  gleamed  in  his  eyes.  His  lips  curled  in  a  way 
that  was  almost  contemptuous. 

"  You  are  asking  something  beyond  my  power  to 
grant,"  he  said,  very  curtly. 

"  But  I  don't  want  any  position  of  trust  or  respon 
sibility  ;  just  some  common  kind  of  work  in  one  of 
your  mills  or  shops." 

John  spoke  so  earnestly  and  with  such  evident  de 
sire  that  Mr.  Brompton  looked  at  him  sharply. 

"  Some  of  Mr.  Dunbar's  notions?"  he  tartly  sug 
gested. 

"No.  Mr.  Duribar  has  had  nothing  to  do  with 
this.  We  have  not  even  spoken  on  the  subject." 

"What,  then,  put  such  a  notion  into  your  head? 
Young  men  with  your  training  and  advantages  usu- 


JOHN    DISNEY'S   SCHEME.  269 

ally  aspire  to  something  higher  than  working  in 
foundry  yards  or  machine  shops." 

"  The  notion  has  been  in  my  head  for  a  long  time," 
John  answered,  frankly.  "  You  see,  up  there  at  col 
lege  we  heard  a  great  deal  about  what  is  called  the 
'  social  problem.'  Professors  who  never  saw  the  in 
side  of  a  workshop,  and  who  know  nothing  whatever 
of  the  real  life  of  the  people,  used  to  talk  in  a  very 
profound  way  of  the  new  social  conditions,  and  all 
the  rest  of  it.  Then  the  men  in  their  rooms  would 
take  the  matter  up,  talking  what  to  me  was  non 
sense.  None  of  them,  either  professors  or  students, 
had  any  practical  knowledge  of  the  subject.  I  used 
to  laugh  at  them,  the  professors  especially,  for  they 
should  have  known  better.  It  seemed  a  ridiculous 
thing  for  men  who  never  did  a  day's  work  in  their 
lives,  and  who  had  no  business  experience  whatever, 
to  go  on  discussing  such  a  question  as  this.  But  I 
made  up  my  mind,  if  I  ever  got  a  chance,  to  go  into 
the  matter  for  myself,  as  it  would  help  me  to  decide 
upon  my  own  future.  My  grandfather,  as  you  know, 
left  me  a  little  money,  not  much,  still  enough  for 
present  purposes.  And  now  that  I  am  free,  and  not 
quite  clear  as  to  what  line  of  business  I  may  take  up, 
I  thought  this  would  be  a  good  time  to  work  out 
my  experiment." 

Mr.  Brompton  listened  with  much  interest,  look 
ing  closely  all  the  while  at  John.  Though  his  face 
was  always  stern  and  set,  there  were  times  when  an 
expression  almost  kindly  came  upon  it,  like  sunlight 
on  a  rugged  mountain.  This  statement  of  John's 
impressed  him.  It  was  not  such  a  romantic  under- 


270  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

taking,  after  all.  As  he  saw  it,  this  was  simply  a 
close  investigation  such  as  any  wise  man  of  business 
would  encourage. 

After  a  short  pause  he  said  : 

"  This  everlasting  discussion  of  the  '  social  ques 
tion,'  as  people  call  it,  by  men  who  don't  know  what 
they  are  talking  about  is  a  serious  injury  to  the 
business  of  the  country.  In  college  you  say  the  pro 
fessors  talked  about  it.  As  most  of  the  college  pro 
fessors  are  well-meaning,  inoffensive  men  in  them 
selves,  their  talks  would  not  do  any  harm.  But 
newspapers  get  hold  of  these  things.  Then  agitators 
take  them  up.  The  next  thing  the  workmen  them 
selves  are  talking  about  them.  After  this  come 
strikes  of  one  kind  and  another,  keeping  business  un 
settled  all  the  time.  If  men  knew  what  they  were 
talking  about  it  would  not  be  so  bad.  One  thing 
I  like  about  Dr.  Bland — he  does  not  bore  us  every 
Sunday  with  tiresome  harangues  on  the  '  Responsi 
bilities  of  Wealth '  or  the  *  Duties  of  Employers '  and 
such  stuff.  A  few  Sundays  ago,  when  he  was  away 
somewhere,  an  apostle  of  the  new  order  held  forth  on 
the  *  Wrongs  of  the  Poor,'  making  out  that  we  were 
to  blame  for  the  present  state  of  things.  What  did 
he  know  about  it?  Nothing  whatever.  He  re 
minded  me  of  a  tonguefish  floundering  about  in 
muddy  water." 

This  little  speech  seemed  to  relieve  Mr.  Brompton 
of  much  of  the  bad  feeling  which  he  had  when  the 
conversation  opened,  so  much  so  that  he  even  smiled 
upon  John  in  quite  a  friendly  way. 

But  words  are  queer  things.     Sometimes  they  go 


JOHN    DISNEY'S  SCHEME.  271 

up  like  a  rocket,  coming  down  again  in  showers  of 
variegated  light,  while  at  other  times  they  will  rush 
into  the  sky  with  a  great  noise,  only  to  end  in  smoke 
and  sound.  When  properly  understood  words  are  only 
poles  upon  which  to  string  the  wires  of  our  thought, 
not  flagstaffs  for  the  display  of  mental  bunting. 

Now,  all  the  time  Mr.  Brompton  was  speaking 
John  Disney,  though  listening  to  every  word,  was 
making  applications  very  different  from  those  which 
the  speaker  intended.  He  thought  of  the  sleek, 
well-fed,  complacent  congregations  who  gathered 
every  Sunday  in  the  church  where  Dr.  Bland  min 
istered  with  such  eminent  favor.  Then  he  thought 
of  the  hundreds  of  plain,  common  people  who  attend 
ed  the  Mission  church  of  Hugh  Dunbar.  And  then 
he  thought  of  the  great  gulf  which  separated  the  one 
company  from  the  other,  a  gulf  wider  and  deeper, 
than  in  any  other  city  in  the  world. 

But  John  did  not  give  Mr.  Brompton  any  inkling 
of  his  thinkings.  There  are  times  when  a  close 
blockade  upon  the  mouth  is  scientific  warfare,  and 
when  silence  rises  to  the  dignity  of  statesmanship. 
Mr.  Brompton,  looking  at  John  from  under  his 
shaggy  eyebrows,  never  once  suspected  that  behind 
that  quiet  face  of  his  there  was  going  on  a  process  of 
thinking  just  the  very  opposite  of  that  which  he  de 
sired.  Such,  however,  was  the  case.  Mr.  Bromp 
ton  was  now  quite  disposed  to  help  John,  and  on  the 
following  Monday  John  Disney  was  installed  as  as 
sistant  timekeeper  in  the  Hematite  Rolling  Mills  and 
Tubal-Cain  Machine  Shops,  a  concern  in  which  Mark 
Brompton  was  a  large  stockholder. 


272  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

That  same  Monday  evening  when  Fred  Sauvier 
returned  to  his  home,  and  when  he,  with  Oberta,  as 
was  their  custom  every  evening,  went  over  the  af 
fairs  of  the  day,  he  spoke  in  glowing  terms  of  his  new 
assistant. 

"Handsome  and  unmarried,"  he  said,  glancing 
mischievously  at  Oberta. 

"  How  do  you  know  ? "  a  very  natural  question  of 
Oberta's,  seeing  she  was  a  woman. 

"  First  from  my  eyes,  for  he  is  tall,  well  formed, 
not  so  fine  in  face  as  Mr.  Dunbar,  but  more  rugged 
and  manly-looking,  with  a  pair  of  eyes  that  can  cut 
leather,  and  about  as  shapely  a  head  as  ever  sat  on  a 
man's  shoulders." 

"  Your  description  has  my  approval,  and  you  say 
he  is  unmarried." 

The  look  which  Oberta  returned  to  Fred  as  she 
said  this  was  brimful  of  mirth,  sharing  part  of  it  with 
Mrs.  Sauvier,  who  listened  with  much  enjoyment  to 
the  lively  chat. 

"I say  it  because  he  told  me  so  himself,  and  I  pre 
sume  he  knows  ;  still  these  are  the  days  of  the  '  new 
woman,'  so  that  a  man  may  be  married  and  not  know 
it." 

"  Speak  for  yourself,  Fred  Sauvier !  Who  are  you 
to  talk  of  the  j  new  woman  ? '  Remember  that  1  am 
in  'suits  and  wraps'  in  the  well-known  house  of 
Linsey  &  "Woolsey,  where  every  day  the  'new 
woman'  appears  in  state.  But  let  the  'new  woman' 
alone.  It  is  the  new  man  I  am  interested  in." 

"lie  is  a  gentleman." 

"  Handsome,  unmarried,  and  a  gentleman  !     Then 


JOHN    DISNEY'S   SCHEME.  273 

why  has  he  become  your  assistant  at  the  Hematite 
Rolling  Mills?  The  plot  thickens,  the  mystery 
deepens ;  hurry  up,  Fred,  with  the  rest  of  it ;  there 
must  be  a  romance  somewhere." 

"  Probably  there  is,  but  so  far  I  haven't  seen  any 
thing  of  it." 

"  Fred,  you  are  most  unsatisfactory.  Here  are 
mother  and  I  just  dying  to  know  all  about  this  dis 
tinguished  stranger,  and  you  just  drop  a  word  or  two 
like  a  stingy  fanner  feeding  corn  to  his  chickens." 

"  Some  evening  I  may  bring  him  down  here  to  see 
mother — an  evening  when  you  are  detained  at  the 
store." 

"  Fred  Sauvier !  if  you  do  anything  so  mean  I 
will  disown  you ;  I  will  disinherit  you  ;  I  will  leave 
my  estates  to  an  institution  for  Distressed  and  Afflict 
ed  Sisters.  No,  sir  !  No  store  for  me  the  evening 
when  the  '  paragon '  is  here.  And  even  if  I  take 
half  of  my  department  '  home  on  approval '  I  will 
be  arrayed  as  Solomon  never  dreamed  of.  Mean 
time  won't  you  tell  us  his  name  ? " 

"  His  name  is  Disney,  John  Disney.  He  said  his 
father  was  a  doctor,  uptown  somewhere.  But  what 
ails  mother?  Oberta,  quick !"  but  without  waiting 
for  Oberta  Fred  sprang  to  his  mother's  side,  only 
in  time  to  save  her  from  falling  to  the  floor.  In 
an  instant  he  had  carried  her  to  the  lounge,  where 
Oberta  bathed  her  forehead,  also  sprinkling  her  face 
with  water.  After  a  time  she  returned  to  conscious 
ness,  opening  her  eyes  in  a  dazed,  bewildered  way. 
Fred  knew  nothing  of  the  fowner  attack  when  Sister 
Nora  mentioned  Dr.  Disney's  name,  but  Oberta 


274  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

remembered  and  wondered  what  it  meant  JBut_she 
was  careful  not  to  say  anything  to  Fred,  for  natu 
rally  he  was  anxious  about  his  mother.  Oberta  put 
him  off  with  such  replies  as  carne  to  her,  finally  re 
tiring  earlier  than  usual,  that  she  might  keep  closer 
watch  over  Mrs.  Sauvier,  who  had  fallen  into  a  heavy 
but  restless  sleep. 

It  was  a  dismal  ending  to  an  evening  which  started 
so  well. 


MADGE  VISITS  THE   MISSION.  275 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Madge  Visits  the  Mission. 

TOTAL  depravity  is  the  totality  of  nonsense. 
Because  some  men  are  bad,  therefore  all  men 
are  bad,  is  the  insanity  of  logic.  That  a  man 
who  has  weaknesses  and  failings  is  incapable  of  real 
good  is  more  than  a  fallacy — it  is  a  lie.  Gold  is  not 
mined  in  chunks.  The  best  of  grain  has  wrappings 
of  chaff.  Apples  grow  on  trees,  and  the  trees  are 
nearly  always  scraggy,  scrawny,  miserable  affairs. 
Hugh  Dunbar  was  finding  out  these  very  things, 
deriving,  too,  much  hope  and  comfort  in  the  discov 
ery.  Men  whom  he  approached  with  the  desire  of 
securing  their  cooperation  in  his  work  did  not  all  turn 
away  with  the  indifference  of  Mark  Brompton.  Far 
from  it.  Some  of  them  gave  generously  of  their 
means;  nor  were  they  content  with  this,  but  gave 
something  of  much  greater  value — their  sympathy 
and  presence.  "Women  who  stood  high  in  the  social 
world  were  glad  to  have  a  share  in  the  work  of  Sister 
Nora.  There  is  something  in  nearly  everyone  which 
admires  heroism  and  self-sacrifice.  When  it  became 
known,  then,  that  Hugh  Dunbar,  for  the  sake  of  the 
neglected  thousands  on  the  East  Side,  had  voluntarily 
resigned  a  life  of  ease,  actually  making  his  home 
among  the  people  whom  he  served,  there  was  a  gen 
erous  recognition  of  his  fidelity  to  duty.  There  were 
many  who  thought  that  the  sacrifice  was  needless, 


276  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

that  his  conscience  was  overstrained,  and  his  sense  of 
duty  too  serious  by  far.  Still,  no  one  could  question 
his  motives  or  doubt  the  principles  under  which  he  acted. 

Sister  Nora  retained  her  elegant  home  on  Fifth 
Avenue,  for  she  had  by  no  means  withdrawn  from 
society,  but  a  great  deal  of  her  time  was  given  to  the 
Mission.  Several  of  her  intimate  friends  entered 
heartily  into  many  of  her  plans,  sharing  sympathet 
ically  in  her  enthusiasm. 

The  result  of  all  this  was  quickly  felt  in  the  Mis 
sion  itself,  for  while  there  was  no  parade  or  display 
of  wealth  there  was  an  ability  to  meet  the  growing 
needs  of  the  work.  A  large  Mission  house  was  built 
and  fitted  up  with  generous  care.  Quarters  were 
provided  for  reading  rooms,  children's  play  rooms, 
drill  rooms,  gymnasiums,  bathing  rooms,  halls  for 
general  entertainment,  and  the  great  building  was 
occupied  in  every  part. 

Hugh  Dunbar  had  no  use  for  mere  temperance 
harangues — idle  denunciations  of  the  saloon,  but  pro 
viding  nothing  by  way  of  counter  attraction. 

Once  he  said  to  John  Disney,  who  was  discussing 
the  matter  with  him :  "  The  rich  man  drinks  in  his 
club ;  the  poor  man  drinks  in  the  saloon.  The  one 
gets  drunk  on  wine ;  the  other  gets  drunk  on  whisky. 
The  one  makes  a  beast  of  himself  where  the  floors  are 
covered  with  carpet ;  the  other  where  the  floor  is  cov 
ered  with  sawdust.  The  only  difference  is  that  the 
club  keeps  open  on  Sunday,  while  the  saloon  is  sup 
posed  to  be  closed." 

"  But  the  evil  of  the  one  does  not  justify  the  evil 
of  the  other,"  John  very  properly  replied. 


MADGE  VISITS  THE   MISSION.  277 

"  Then  remove  the  evil  from  both,  leaving  in  each 
case  that  which  is  good.  But  let  there  be  no  dis 
crimination  in  favor  of  the  rich  man's  club  as  against 
the  poor  man's  saloon." 

On  this  principle  Dunbar  proceeded,  so  that  a  part 
of  the  Mission  building  became  in  reality  a  working- 
men's  club.  The  experiment  amply  justified  itself, 
for  scores,  even  hundreds,  of  men  of  the  Silas  Smithers 
type  spent  many  of  their  spare  evenings  in  this 
club. 

Dunbar  was  just  as  radical  on  the  subject  of  amuse 
ments.  He  had  too  generous  an  appreciation  of  life 
to  imagine  that  young  people  would  content  them 
selves  with  twirling  their  thumbs  all  evening,  after  a 
hard,  grinding  day  in  some  noisy  shop  or  crowded 
workroom.  Such  puritanic  notions  were  not  to  his 
mind.  They  might  be  safe,  certainly  they  were 
silly ;  anyhow  they  belonged  to  a  past  age.  Hence 
he  went  ahead  with  his  own  plans. 

Of  course  he  was  criticised — sharply,  bitterly,  un 
kindly.  All  manner  of  things  were  said  about  him. 
Dear  little  men,  pious  little  men,  even  good  little 
men,  would  condole  with  each  other,  every  time  they 
met,  over  the  daring  irreligiousness  of  this  frank 
revolutionist.  But  Mr.  Dunbar  went  on  just  the 
same.  "When  a  clergyman  is  young,  handsome,  and 
rich — particularly  rich — he  can  afford  himself  a  large 
measure  of  independence.  Hugh  Dunbar  could 
afford  this  luxury ;  but,  better  still,  he  lived  up  to 
the  utmost  extent  of  his  privilege-. 

One  bright  Sunday  morning — and  when  New 
York  undertakes  to  furnish  a  bright  Sunday  morn- 


278  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

ing  it  supplies  the  genuine  article.  The  air  may  not 
be  quite  so  clear  as  at  Eastwich.  The  blue  in  the 
sky  may  not  be  as  deep,  nor  reach  away  so  far  be 
fore  the  wandering  eye.  In  Eastwich  one  can  hear 
the  lowing  of  the  cattle  in  the  meadows,  the  song  of 
the  birds  in  the  trees,  the  hum  of  life  which  rises 
out  of  the  ground,  the  rustle  of  the  leaves  as  they  are 
played  upon  by  the  myriad-fingered  wind,  and  yet 
amid  all  a  Sabbath  stillness  rests  upon  everything. 
The  stream  which  throws  itself  over  the  rocks  down 
by  the  paper  mill  is  less  noisy  than  on  other  days. 
The  horses  in  the  mill  stables  stand  in  their  stalls 
with  the  solemnity  of  a  Scottish  kirk  elder  of  the 
olden  time.  The  bell  from  the  white-painted  church 
with  the  Corinthian  columns  sends  out  its  mellow 
notes  far  across  the  listening  hills,  only  adding  to  the 
holy  quiet  of  the  place.  The  cemetery,  so  beautifully 
calm  on  other  days,  now  seems  to  be  resting  under 
the  hush  of  eternity. 

But  while  in  New  York  we  cannot  have  this  ex 
pressive  stillness,  for  there  are  too  many  of  us  to  be 
all  quiet  at  the  same  time,  yet  there  are  Sunday 
mornings  when  even  this  great  city  seems  under  a 
spell  of  rest  and  peace. 

It  was  on  one  of  these  mornings  John  Disney  said 
to  Madge : 

"  Suppose  this  morning  we  go  to  the  Mission,  then 
after  service  take  lunch  with  Dunbar.  You  know 
we  have  been  promising  this  for  a  long  time." 

By  this  time  we  have  all  discovered  that  Madge 
Disney  was  a  fairly  easy  and  self-possessed  young 
lady ;  not  so  stately  as  Ethel  Brompton,  not  so  ter- 


MADGE  VISITS  THE   MISSION.  279 

riblj  frank  as  Janet,  not  so  cold  as  Anita  Yon  der 
Plonk,  but  as  well  balanced  as  any  of  them. 

How,  then,  happened  it  that  the  simple  mention 
of  Hugh  Dunbar's  name  affected  her  as  it  did  ?  "We 
admit  that  the  effect  was  felt  more  than  seen,  re 
minding  one  of  an  inward  and  spiritual  grace  rather 
than  an  outward  and  visible  sign.  An  onlooker, 
after  John  had  made  his  suggestion,  might  have  seen 
her  eyes  shine ;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  her 
eyes  were  always  bright.  A  little  bit  of  color  might 
also  be  noticed ;  but  anyone's  color  may  heighten  at 
times. 

But  there  was  something  the  onlooker  could  not 
see — a  peculiar  heart  throb ;  a  quick,  keen  sense  of 
delicious  pain ;  a  soul  tumult,  as  if  the  spirit,  like  a 
bird,  was  frightened  in  its  cage  and  was  fluttering 
helplessly  against  the  imprisoning  wires. 

Up  to  the  time  of  her  first  meeting  with  Hugh 
Dunbar,  on  that  eventful  Saturday  afternoon  nearly 
a  year  ago,  it  was  tacitly  understood  between  the 
Brompton  and  the  Disney  households  that  Madge  and 
Percy  in  due  time  would  arrive  at  an  understanding 
mutually  agreeable. 

In  many  respects  Percy  Brompton  would  have 
been  an  admirable  husband  for  Madge.  Under  her 
guidance  and  with  her  ambitions  as  an  incentive 
Percy  might  have  developed  into  something  really 
worthy.  But  it  is  always  unfortunate  when  a  woman 
cannot  look  up  to  a  man  as  a  lover,  for  she  rarely 
ever  can  look  up  to  the  same  man  as  a  husband.  The 
woman  who  is  conscious  of  her  superiority  at  the 
start  seldom  loses  that  consciousness.  Now  this  in 


280  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

itself  may  be  a  pleasant  feeling,  but  it  is  not  love  in 
anything  like  its  highest  form.  Love  is  a  passion,  a 
splendid  passion,  honoring  the  one  to  whom  it  gives 
itself.  It  carries  that  one  to  the  mountain  heights  of 
the  soul ;  the  sky  of  the  heart  is  flooded  with  trans 
figuring  light,  and  in  that  light  the  loved  one  lives 
with  a  glory  almost  divine.  But  Madge  could  not 
do  this  with  Percy  Brompton.  And  now  that  Hugh 
Dunbar  had  come  into  her  life,  to  think  of  Percy 
as  more  than  a  mere  friend  was  impossible,  for 
there  was  something  singularly  attractive  about 
Hugh  Dunbar.  He  was  unlike — altogether  unlike — 
the  other  young  men  of  her  acquaintance.  His  un 
selfishness,  his  devotion  to  his  work,  his  fearlessness, 
his  strength  of  character,  she  could  not  but  recognize, 
so  that  he  had  come  to  be  a  very  prominent  figure  in 
her  thoughts. 

Still,  though  she  admired  him,  confessing  to  her 
self  the  extraordinary  influence  which  he  exercised 
over  her,  yet  her  mind  was  by  no  means  clear. 
Madge  was  an  ambitious  young  woman,  with  leanings 
to  social  prestige  as  well  as  social  enjoyment.  The 
life  to  which  Hugh  Dnnbar  had  devoted  himself  was 
not  the  one  she  would  have  chosen  for  him.  With 
his  conceded  abilities  and  social  rank  he  might  easily 
attain  the  highest  dignity  in  the  Church.  Had  she 
expressed  her  real  wish  she  would  have  preferred  a 
political  career  for  him,  but  now  that  the  matter  was 
decided  she  could  see  a  vast  difference  between  a 
clergyman  in  a  wealthy  city  parish  and  one  working 
over  in  the  slums  among  all  sorts  of  people.  And 
already  she  was  aware  that  this  work  of  his  was 


MADGE   VISITS  THE    MISSION.  28. 

not  taken  up  for  a  time,  but  one  to  which  he  had 
given  his  life.  Madge  was  quite  worldly  in  her  way. 
She  was  a  thorough  Gothainite.  She  enjoyed  the 
week  of  the  Horse  Show ;  she  was  partial  to  smart 
gowns  and  becoming  hats ;  she  liked  going  out  to 
balls  and  receptions  and  parties.  It  was  an  article  in 
her  creed  to  see  the  best  there  was  at  the  theaters 
and  hear  the  best  there  was  of  the  operas.  She  was 
by  no  means  either  romantic  or  sentimental.  She  ad 
mitted,  of  course,  that  poor  people  had  claims,  and 
that  it  was  beautiful  of  Mr.  Dunbar  to  espouse  their 
cause  as  he  did.  Still,  so  far,  no  sense  of  personal 
duty  had  come  to  her. 

But  as  she  stood  there  in  the  hall  waiting  for 
John — she  was  ready  first,  an  unusual  circumstance, 
in  all  truth — she  did  not  show  any  marks  of  inward 
disturbance,  looking  rather  like  a  picture  of  womanly 
peace  and  feminine  contentment. 

With  that  instinctive  sense  of  the  proprieties  which 
is  common  to  every  genuine  woman,  her  costume  was 
very  unobtrusive.  So  far  as  apparel  was  concerned 
no  one  would  have  taken  her  as  belonging  to  the 
smartest  set  in  the  city.  Still  there  was  something 
in  her  face  and  bearing  which  removed  her  quite  a 
distance  from  Mrs.  Silas  Smithers.  A  brisk  walk  of 
about  ten  minutes  brought  them  over  to  Second  Av 
enue,  where  they  took  the  "  Elevated,"  which  rapidly 
carried  them  downtown.  Going  to  a  mission  church 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  on  a  Sunday  morning  was 
a  new  experience  with  Madge.  It  was  almost  as  novel 
as  that  Coney  Island  trip.  Indeed,  the  feeling  was 
very  much  the  same.  Looking  out  of  the  car  window, 


282  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

she  noticed  the  immense  numbers  of  people  on  the 
avenue  and  side  streets.  She  saw  also  that  most  of 
the  small  stores  were  open  and  that  Sunday  had  but 
scant  recognition.  As  they  went  farther  down  she 
could  not  fail  but  observe  conditions  of  life  which 
she  had  never  imagined  in  her  native  city. 

"With  her  Sunday  was  usually  a  very  quiet  day. 
In  the  morning  she  went  to  church  with  her  mother. 
In  the  afternoon  she  read  a  little,  but  wrote  more,  as 
this  was  a  good  chance  to  catch  up  with  her  corre 
spondence.  In  the  evening  a  few  friends  dropped 
in,  so  that  the  time  was  taken  up  some  way.  Sunday, 
however,  was  not  a  red-letter  day  in  the  Disney 
household.  It  was  therefore  a  great  surprise  for 
Madge  to  see  how  the  day  was  spent  on  the  East 
Side. 

"  John,"  she  asked,  with  a  more  serious  face  than 
she  usually  wore,  "  are  there  no  churches  in  this  part 
of  the  city?" 

"  A  few,"  answered  John,  "  but  very  few." 

"  And  yet  the  other  evening  Dr.  Bland  said  there 
were  too  many  churches  in  New  York." 

"Too  many  in  certain  parts  of  New  York, but  cer 
tainly  not  too  many  over  here." 

"  How,  then,  about  libraries  and  schools,  and  things 
of  that  sort  ? " 

"  They  are  no  more  numerous  than  the  churches. 
There  are  serious  conditions  over  here.  Dunbar  is 
on  the  right  track.  But  what  can  one  man  do  in 
such  multitudes  as  these  ? " 

Madge  said  nothing,  but  looked  out  of  the  car  win 
dow  with  even  deeper  interest  than  before.  John's 


MADGE   VISITS  THE    MISSION.  283 

mention  of  Dunbar's  name  once  more  heightened  her 
color  and  gave  a  clearer  light  to  her  eyes. 

In  due  season  they  reached  the  Mission  church, 
where  Madge  saw  a  very  different  people  from  those 
with  whom  she  was  wont  to  meet  on  Sunday  morn 
ing.  And  yet  that  difference  was  in  raiment  only, 
not  in  heart.  They  were  the  same  people  after  all — 
the  same  sins,  the  same  struggles,  the  same  tempta 
tions,  the  same  sorrows.  In  his  way  Silas  Smithers 
was  living  the  same  life  as  Mark  Brompton ;  Mrs. 
Smithers  the  same  as  Mrs.  Yon  der  Plonk.  But 
Madge  this  morning  did  not  think  much  of  either 
gowns  or  bonnets.  Far  more  serious  matters  had 
taken  possession  of  her.  This  service  had  other 
meanings  than  an  aisle  march,  with  a  rivalry  of  tex 
ture  and  color. 
19 


284  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Dixon  Faber:    Boy  and  Man. 

yV  /T1SS  POLLOK  yet  remained  in  that  splendid 
(  y  I  altitude  of  soul  which  enabled  her  to  con- 
JL  tinue  her  attentions  to  the  piano  of  Mrs. 
Gubbins,  making  it  her  heart  confidant  and  friend. 
Nor  could  she  have  chosen  a  friend  more  ready  or 
responsive.  It  is  true  that  Miss  Pollok  had  deserted 
the  piano  for  months,  ignoring  its  very  existence, 
yet  with  that  royalty  of  forgiveness  for  which  all 
great  natures  are  noted,  pianos  especially,  it  most  gen 
erously  pardoned  this  unkind  neglect.  Yea,  it  went 
far  beyond  the  limits  of  mere  pardon,  for  in  its  intense 
desire  to  share  the  heart  yearnings  of  Miss  Pollok  it 
strained  even  to  breaking  some  of  the  most  sensitive 
cords  of  its  being.  Hence  there  were  notes  in  the 
keyboard  of  its  sympathies  whose  feelings  were  too 
deep  for  utterance.  And  then,  as  if  to  show  how  its 
whole  nature  was  affected,  the  poor,  broken  wires  lay 
prone  and  helpless  across  such  other  wires  as  yet 
remained  in  place,  transmitting  to  them  tones  of  vary 
ing  mystery  and  cadence.  Under  these  sympathetic 
relations  Miss  Pollok  could  not  but  pour  out  of  her 
strong,  heroic  soul  chords  and  harmonies  expressive 
of  the  prof  oundest  emotions. 

The  artist,  going  up  stairs  one  evening,  ventured  to 
remark  to  Mr.  Wright,  who  was  also  going  up  stairs, 
that  the  piano  was  "  a  little  off  color."  As  an  artist, 


DIXON    FABER:    BOY   AND    MAN.  285 

his  use  of  tins  expression  was  quite  natural.  The 
reply  of  Mr.  Wright,  however,  cannot  be  so  easily 
explained  :  " '  A  little  off  color '  is  good."  He  con 
trived,  though,  in  some  way,  a  stage  trick  most  likely, 
to  make  his  meaning  clear,  for  Mr.  Singleton,  Mr. 
Faber,  and  Edward  Yaughen,  who  heard  both  the 
remark  and  the  reply,  smiled  in  a  large,  opulent  way. 
At  that  moment  Miss  Pollok  warbled,  "  In  the  gloam 
ing,  O  my  darling,"  when  another  smile  of  even 
more  ample  dimensions  was  distributed  among  the 
group,  Edward's  share  occupying  his  undivided  ener 
gies  all  the  way  to  his  room. 

Edward  had  just  received  a  letter  from  his  mother. 
As  he  reads  it,  with  his  permission,  we  will  peep 
over  his  shoulder : 

"  EASTWICH,  Jan.  28,  189-. 

..."  You  are  a  good  boy  to  write  so  regularly  and 
at  such  length,  but  then  you  surely  know  how  much 
your  letters  are  to  me.  I  arn  here  all  alone,  but  not 
alone  in  any  morbid  sense,  for  I  have  you  even  more 
constantly  in  my  thought  than  when  you  were  here 
in  the  home.  The  miles  may  separate  us  in  body, 
but  spirit  life  knows  no  separations. 

"  Then  in  you  and  through  you  I  am  having  my 
part  in  the  joy  as  well  as  the  strife  of  the  great 
world.  My  larger  life  is  now  being  lived  by  you. 
When  you  are  true  I  am  true  ;  when  you  are  worthy 
and  upright  I  am  the  same.  The  life  that  you  are 
living  is  my  life,  only  in  another  form.  The  mother 
never  dies  so  long  as  her  children  live.  .  .  . 

"  Coming  so  soon  after  your  conversation  with  your 
Uncle  Mark,  it  wras  singular  that  you  should  have 


286  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

gone  to  the  office  that  night.  These  impressions  of 
ours  are  strange  things.  Often  I  find  myself  wonder 
ing  how  far  we  are  influenced  by  forces  which  are 
purely  spiritual. 

"  Two  things,  however,  occur  to  me  as  to  Dr. 
Disney  being  in  the  office  that  night.  It  may  be 
that  he  was  there  in  the  interest  of  a  patient  who  had 
intrusted  some  confidential  matters  to  his  care — not 
an  uncommon  thing  ;  or  it  may  be  that  he  had  some 
business  affairs  of  his  own,  for  which  he  could  not 
find  any  other  time.  Still,  I  confess — 

"  May  I  come  in  ? "  It  was  Mr.  Faber  who  spoke, 
nor  did  he  wait  for  any  formal  reply.  The  young 
men  by  this  time  had  established  the  most  friendly 
relations,  coming  in  and  going  out  of  each  other's 
rooms  with  scant  ceremony. 

"Singleton  gone  out?"  Faber  queried,  but  not 
before  he  had  filled  his  pipe  out  of  Edward's  jar,  tilt 
ing  his  chair  back  to  a  satisfactory  angle,  making 
himself  as  comfortable  as  timid,  modest,  unobtrusive 
reporters  care  to  do. 

"Yes ;  he  said  he  had  a  ward  meeting  to  attend." 

"  Singleton  has  been  going  out  a  good  deal  this 
winter,"  Faber  observed,  in  a  contemplative  sort  of 
way.  "  Is  he  much  in  politics  ? " 

"  I  think  he  is  chairman  or  secretary  of  some  com 
mittee,  though  I  don't  know  just  what." 

"  Anything  in  my  line,  I  wonder  ?  You  know  all 
is  grist  that  comes  to  my  mill." 

"Why  don't  you  ask  him?  Singleton's  a  good 
fellow,  and  will  help  you  if  he  can." 


DIXON    FABER:    BOY  AND   MAN.  287 

"  For  that  matter,  all  politicians  are  good  fellows. 
Politics,  though,  is  only  a  game,  and  the  politician 
plays  it — heads  I  win,  tails  you  lose." 

Faber  smiled  softly,  but  not  innocently,  for  he  was 
a  reporter  on  the  Trombone,  which  implies  that  he 
knew  better  than  to  always  come  in  when  it  rained, 
but  to  stay  out  sometimes  and  hear  what  the  rain 
drops  were  saying. 

"  But,  my  dear  fellow,  what  has  Singleton  to  gain  ? 
So  far  as  I  can  see,  he  is  giving  his  service  without 
recompense  or  even  hope  of  reward." 

"  Yaughen,  there  are  times  when  I  have  wished 
for  a  lawnmower  which  could  be  applied  to  individ 
uals.  The  superfluous  verdancy  with  which  some 
people  are  burdened  is  something  remarkable.  Ac 
cording  to  your  notions,  Singleton  is  a  patriot.  He 
is  working  solely  in  the  interests  of  his  country.  His 
one  thought  is  the  welfare  of  this  city.  This  is 
beautiful;  it  is  noble.  Singleton  should  have  a 
monument.  All  of  which  proves  that  if  that  lawn- 
mower  was  within  reach  I  could  use  it  to  advantage." 

"  '  Superfluous  verdancy '  in  the  vernacular  is  '  un 
commonly  green,'  "  laughed  Edward.  "  Still,  you 
must  admit  that  luxurious,  succulent  grass  is  much 
better  than  wizened,  dried-up  herbage,  for  that  is 
useless  to  either  man  or  beast." 

"  O,  if  you  mean  to  consider  yourself  as  pasturage 
for  sheep  to  nibble  or  cows  to  munch,  undoubtedly. 
Remember,  though,  that  the  nibbling  and  the  munch 
ing  come  out  of  you.  Now,  in  New  York  a  man 
who  is  green  enough  for  pasturage  is  a  good  deal  of 
a  curiosity,  but  he  never  lasts  longer  than  one  season. 


288  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

Your  sentiments  are  worthy  of  that  mighty  city  of 
Eastwich,  with  its  vast  population  of  nearly  a  thou 
sand  people,  with  its  noble  Board  of  Selectmen,  who 
at  times  have  the  soul-absorbing  problem  of  a  new 
handle  for  the  town  pump  or  a  larger  lock  for  the 
pound  gate.  In  this  town  the  politician  is  simply  a 
man  with  a  scheme.  That  is  all  there  is  of  it.  But 
won't  you  please  pass  the  jar  ?  When  a  weary  man 
undertakes  the  sublime  task  of  enlightening  such  be 
nighted  creatures  as  you  are  he  might  be  asked  to 
take  a  pipe  of  tobacco." 

Mr.  Faber  proceeded  to  renew  his  pipe  in  the 
inner  man.  He  liked  Edward's  tobacco,  and  said 
that  "for  a  country  coot  Vaughen  put  up  quite  a 
mixture." 

Faber's  father  died  when  Dixon  \vas  a  little  bit  of 
a  fellow,  leaving  a  heart-broken  widow  with  three 
small  children,  Dixon  being  the  eldest.  It  was  a 
sad,  desolate  house  to  which  Mrs.  Faber  returned  on 
the  afternoon  of  her  husband's  funeral.  A  few  of 
the  neighbors  had  thoughtfully  prepared  supper, 
remaining  also  a  little  while,  so  as  to  break  up  the 
evening ;  but  after  they  had  gone  the  burden  of  Mrs. 
Faber's  grief  came  upon  her  in  all  its  force.  Mr. 
Faber,  a  steady,  industrious  mechanic,  had  been  sick 
for  some  time,  so  that  the  little  savings  were  entirely 
exhausted.  There  was  nothing  left ;  even  the  funeral 
expenses  had  yet  to  be  met. 

Dixon  did  not  say  much  that  evening,  but  some 
how  there  came  to  him  the  feeling  that  he  was  now, 
in  part,  at  any  rate,  the  head  of  the  house.  The  very 
next  day  he  was  at  the  ferry,  for  the  Fabers  lived  in 


DIXON    FABER:    BOY   AND    MAN.  289 

Brooklyn,  and  before  supper  time  had  sold  two  good- 
sized  bundles  of  papers.  Early  on  the  following 
morning  he  started  out  to  build  up  a  paper  route, 
calling  mostly  upon  those  who  knew  his  father  and 
mother.  He  was  more  successful  than  he  had  hoped, 
but  then  the  poor  are  always  the  best  friends  of  the 
poor.  Every  morning,  from  this  time  on,  Dixon, 
though  not  quite  ten  years  old,  went  around  with  his 
papers,  having  a  route  that  took  fully  two  hours  to 
cover.  Then  in  the  afternoon  he  had  his  stand  at 
the  ferry  house,  where  his  bright,  cheery  face  soon 
became  familiar.  As  people  came  to  know  him  and 
something  of  what  he  was  doing,  he  acquired  a  line 
of  steady  patronage,  so  that  he  could  almost  depend 
upon  a  regular  income.  The  men  who  distributed 
the  papers  took  quite  an  interest  in  the  little  fellow, 
putting  certain  favors  in  his  way,  which  helped  him 
materially. 

At  first  his  mother  went  out  by  the  day,  doing 
such  work  as  she  could  find,  but  this  was  a  most  in 
convenient  arrangement,  for  it  left  Tim  and  Mab  at 
home  by  themselves.  The  other  people  who  lived 
in  the  house,  especially  Hans  Christian's  wife,  did 
what  they  could  for  the  little  ones,  yet  it  was  agreed 
on  all  sides  that  they  were  too  young  to  be  left  in 
this  way.  Dixon  determined,  therefore,  to  open  a 
little  store,  with  his  mother  in  charge,  adding  to  the 
store  such  things  as  might  find  a  ready  sale. 

The  newspaper  men,  hearing  of  this,  took  the 
matter  up,  subscribing  various  amounts,  so  that  one 
day  the  managing  editor  of  the  JZassoon  called  the 
boy  into  the  office,  and  in  behalf  of  his  staff  presented 


290  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

him  with  a  cash  capital  of  twenty  dollars  to  start  the 
concern.  With  this  goodly  sum  in  hand,  as  well  as 
a  line  of  credit,  which  he  was  careful  riot  to  abuse, 
the  little  store  was  opened  under  very  favorable 
auspices.  The  lad  prospered,  so  that  in  due  time  he 
put  an  extra  boy  on  his  morning  paper  route,  then 
another,  finally  having  half  a  dozen  of  them.  Busi 
ness  kept  on  increasing ;  he  therefore  gave  up  his 
place  at  the  ferry,  though  supplying  it  through 
another  boy,  he  finding  it  more  profitable  to  remain 
at  the  store,  where  he  prepared  the  papers  for  the 
afternoon  and  evening  delivery. 

By  this  time  Tim  had  grown  to  be  quite  a  boy, 
just  as  Mab  had  grown  to  be  quite  a  girl,  so  he 
gradually  worked  them  into  the  business,  which  they 
soon  learned  to  manage  very  nicely. 

Then  he  went  to  the  foreman  of  the  Bassoon, 
applying  for  a  place  in  the  printing  department. 
Not  long  after  he  was  chosen  for  the  high  and  hon 
orable  position  of  "  printer's  devil,"  from  which 
elevation  he  descended,  however,  to  a  place  at  case 
work. 

The  store  now  supported  the  family,  for  Mrs. 
Faber  was  a  most  thrifty,  prudent  woman  ;  hence 
what  Dixon  earned,  after  paying  his  share  of  the 
home  expenses,  he  laid  aside  for  the  purpose  of  a 
college  course  in  the  years  to  come. 

Meantime  he  took  up  a  line  of  home  studies,  work 
ing  even  harder  than  when  he  first  started  on  his 
paper  route.  One  of  the  reporters,  a  Columbia  man, 
and  a  whole-hearted,  noble  fellow,  took  quite  an  in 
terest  in  Dixon,  coaching  him  most  generously,  so 


DIXON    FABER:    BOY  AND    MAN.  291 

that  when  he  was  about  eighteen,  perhaps  nineteen, 
he  entered  the  New  York  University.  "While  here 
he  wrote  two  or  three  bright  things  for  the  Trom 
bone,  whereupon  the  city  editor  dropped  him  a  line 
with  a  request  to  call.  This  he  did,  but  not  without 
a  letter  from  his  good  friend,  the  managing  editor 
of  the  Bassoon.  The  interview  was  satisfactory, 
and  Dixon  became  not  only  college  correspondent, 
but  a  regular  contributor  as  well. 

As  a  further  result  of  this  interview  he  was  brought 
into  relations  with  some  out-of-town  papers,  so  that 
he  was  able  substantially  to  pay  his  way  in  college. 
This  allowed  his  savings  to  go  to  an  increase  of  the 
business  at  the  store,  for  that  now  had  become  quite 
a  concern.  He  retained  his  position  on  the  Trom 
bone,  and  at  the  time  of  our  first  meeting  him  was 
one  of  the  most  trusted  writers  on  the  staff.  He 
boarded  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Gubbins,  as  it  was 
important  for  him  to  be  in  the  city  most  of  the 
time.  Still  he  made  regular  and  frequent  visits  to 
his  Brooklyn  home.  He  was  a  bright,  wide-awake 
fellow,  able  to  give  "  pointers  "  to  even  Wall  Street 
men ;  while  lie  knew  more  in  five  minutes  of  city 
affairs  than  most  of  the  politicians  would  know  in 
five  years. 

Having  relighted  as  well  as  refilled  his  pipe,  he 
proceeded  : 

"  Now,  Singleton  is  doing  one  of  two  things — either 
turning  the  grindstone  for  some  one  or  having  some 
one  turn  the  grindstone  for  him.  What  men  are 
after  in  this  town  is  not  honor,  but  shekels.  The 
average  politician  is  ready  to  lie,  cheat,  bribe,  make 


292  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

promises,  sell  out  his  friends,  commit  almost  any 
crime  short  of  murder,  so  as  to  get  what  he  wants. 
The  more  I  know  of  politics  the  more  I  am  reminded 
of  that  scene  on  the  mountain  where  the  tempter 
says  to  the  Man,  'All  these  will  I  give  thee  if  thou 
wilt  fall  down  and  worship  me.'  Now,  that  may  be 
poetry ;  some  people  think  it  is.  It  may  be  an 
oriental  parable ;  some  people  think  it  is ;  but  it  is 
New  York  life  nevertheless.  Why,  I  have  known 
men  for  the  sake  of  such  kingdoms  of  the  world  as 
are  represented  by  a  seat  in  Congress  or  the  Senate 
or  an  ambassadorship,  all  the  way  down  to  some  petty 
office  in  the  city,  sell  out  everything  that  was  good 
in  themselves,  and  simply  grovel  at  the  feet  of  the 
one  who  had  these  prizes  to  dispose  of." 

We  would  be  doing  Mr.  Faber  an  injustice  if  we 
did  not  say  that  this  lengthy  speech  of  his  was  not 
given  as  it  appears  in  print.  Here  it  is  in  solid, 
unpicturesque  type,  whereas  in  speaking  to  Edward 
he  puffed  it  out  with  mouthfuls  of  smoke.  lie 
jerked  it  out  in  oracular  fragments.  He  pulled  it 
out  in  lengths  as  parlor  magicians  do  narrow  strips 
of  paper.  Mr.  Faber  was  not  an  orator.  He  was 
versatile,  though. 

u  By  the  way,  Vaughen,  Mr.  Mark  Brompton  is 
your  uncle  ? " 

"  He  is." 

"  Keen  &  Sharp,  your  employers,  are  his  agents 
and  brokers  ? " 

"  They  are." 

"  Well,  they  are  now  at  work  on  a  scheme  to  get 
control  of  a  railroad  in  which  Mr.  Brompton  is 


DIXON    FABER:    BOY   AND    MAN.  293 

heavily  interested.  If  they  are  successful  they  will 
make  it  lively  for  your  worthy  uncle." 

"  How  did  you  hear  of  this  ? "  Edward  asked,  with 
an  excitement  which  he  made  no  attempt  to  conceal. 

"  The  question  is  not  how  did  I  hear  of  it,  but  has 
Mr.  Brompton  heard  of  it  ?  The  best  thing  for  you 
to  do  is  to  go  right  uptown,  see  Mr.  Brompton,  find 
out  if  he  knows  anything  of  it;  if  not,  put  him  on 
his  guard." 

It  was  not  long  before  Edward  was  on  his  way  to 
Mark  Brompton's,  taking  the  "  Elevated  "  at  Eighth 
Street  station.  To  his  great  relief,  \vhen  he  arrived 
he  learned  that  his  uncle  was  at  home  and  in  the 
library. 

"  And  so  they  thought  to  catch  me  napping,"  he 
said,  after  Edward  had  told  him  what  he  had  heard. 
"  Tell  Mr.  Faber  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  him.  I 
have  known  of  this,  however,  for  some  time." 

Edward  thought  this  a  favorable  opportunity  to 
speak  of  the  evening  when  he  went  downtown  and 
saw  Dr.  Disney  in  the  office  with  Keen  &  Sharp. 
Mr.  Brompton  listened  with  the  deepest  interest, 
questioning  Edward  closely  as  to  the  date  and  his 
certainty  that  it  was  really  Dr.  Disney.  No  amount 
of  questioning,  however,  could  shake  his  statement, 
for  he  was  so  certain  as  to  leave  no  room  for  doubt. 

"I  am  sorry  if  Keen  &  Sharp  have  led  Dr.  Disney 
into  this  affair,  for  he  can't  afford  to  lose  much 
money,  which  Keen  &  Sharp  know  just  as  well  as 
I  do." 

Edward  looked  surprised. 

"  Dr.  Disney  is  by  no  means  as  well  off  as  people 


294  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

imagine.  He  has  a  large  practice,  and  he  deserves 
it,  for  he  is  a  splendid  physician  ;  but,  poor  fellow, 
he  is  dabbling  in  stocks  all  the  time.  Within  the 
last  two  years  he  must  have  been  all  cleaned  out. 
Two  or  three  times  the  market  went  dead  against 
him.  I  don't  really  know  how  he  pulled  through." 

"  Is  he  aware  that  you  know  of  his  speculations  ? " 

"  O  no !  He  will  sometimes,  after  taking  my  pulse 
and  putting  his  ear  down  to  my  heart,  tell  me  that 
Wall  Street  is  too  much  for  me,  while  at  the  same 
time  he  is  under  a  far  heavier  strain  than  I  am.  I 
cannot  but  admire  his  pluck.  Fine  fellow  his  son 
John  is." 

Edward  launched  out,  young  man  fashion,  on  the 
various  good  qualities  of  John  Disney,  a  theme  upon 
which  he  could  always  be  eloquent. 

"  What  does  he  mean  by  clerking  in  the  rolling 
mills  ? "  Mr.  Brompton  asked. 

"I  think  he  intends  to  go  into  the  business  him 
self.  This  will  give  him  a  chance  to  learn  some 
thing  of  it." 

"  You  believe,  then,  he  is  serious  in  this  move  ? " 

"  Most  assuredly.  He  told  me  you  were  interested 
in  the  concern,  one  of  the  directors." 

"That  is  true." 

"  Well,  my  dear  uncle,  let  me  just  say  that  in  three 
months'  time  John  Disney  will  know  more  about  the 
Hematite  Kolling  Mills  and  Tubal-Cain  Iron  Works ' 
than  all  the  directors  on  the  board,  excepting  your 
self,  of  course." 

"You  needn't  except  me,  and  even  then  he 
wouldn't  know  much.  I  attend  a  directors'  meeting 


DIXON    FABER:    BOY  AND   MAN.  295 

once  a  month.  It  lasts  an  hour.  During  that  hour 
we  listen  to  some  reports,  pass  on  some  bills,  transact 
some  formal  business,  then  adjourn.  I  know  nothing 
about  the  concern,  nor  do  I  wish  to  know.  All  I 
care  to  have  out  of  it  is  a  good  fat  dividend." 

Mr.  Brompton,  as  he  spoke,  went  over  to  his  desk, 
which  gave  Edward  a  chance  to  leave. 

Mr.  Brompton  then  renewed  his  thanks  to  Mr. 
Faber,  which  Edward  promised  to  convey,  and  the 
young  man  was  soon  on  his  way  to  the  home  of  Mrs. 
G  ubbins. 


296  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Ethel   Brompton's   Choice. 

TTENDRIK  VON  DER  PLONK  has  not,  so 
j"~j  far,  been  a  prominent  figure  in  these  pages. 
\y  Indeed,  his  name  has  been  mentioned  only  once, 
and  then  in  but  an  incidental  way.  This,  however, 
was  not  with  the  intent  of  keeping  Mr.  Yon  der 
Plonk  within  permanent  shadow  of  the  "  wings," 
while  others  held  the  center  of  the  stage.  The  fact 
is,  the  time  had  not  yet  come  for  him  to  take  his 
place  close  up  to  the  footlights,  where  he  could  be 
seen  and  heard  by  all  in  the  house.  Thus  far,  there 
fore,  he  has  been  very  much  in  the  background,  only 
a  sort  of  stage  dummy,  just  to  fill  in  what  otherwise 
would  be  a  blank  space.  Stage  dummies,  however,  arc 
useful  in  their  way.  What  chances,  too,  they  have  of 
seeing  things  and  saying  things  as  they  stand  in 
little  knots  and  groups  on  different  parts  of  the  stage ! 

For  some  time,  even  before  the  opening  of  our 
story,  Hendrik  Yon  der  Plonk  had  been  quite  marked 
in  his  attentions  to  Ethel  Brompton.  So  definite  and 
pointed  were  these  attentions  that  it  was  generally 
understood  among  the  Gothamites  that  there  would 
be  a  wedding  in  the  course  of  time. 

He  had  met  her  at  a  charity  ball,  where  she  looked 
uncommonly  well  in  what  was  anything  but  a  charity 
gown.  She  wore  diamonds  on  her  neck  and  in  her 
hair,  which  were  not  bought  at  a  charity  bureau,  and 


ETHEL    BROMPTON'S   CHOICE.  297 

she  disported  herself  in  a  way  which  would  not  sug 
gest  a  heart  breaking  with  sympathy  for  the  poor. 
Nevertheless  it  was  a  charity  ball,  for  the  proceeds, 
after  certain  expenses  were  paid,  were  given  to  some 
deserving  cause.  "  Cause  "  in  these  instances  should 
always  be  put  either  in  capitals  or  italics. 

It  would  be  a  vulgar  impertinence  for  anyone  to 
ask  what  the  net  proceeds  were,  or  what  special  fund 
was  enriched  by  such  offerings.  The  idea  of  making 
common,  sordid,  commercial  inquiries  in  matters  of 
this  sort  is  simply  preposterous.  Rather  let  us  think 
of  the  comfort  that  the  mere  fact  in  itself  brings  to 
the  poor.  Just  to  know  that  Ethel  Brompton,  with 
scores,  perhaps  hundreds,  of  her  class,  spent  a  whole 
night  dancing  any  number  of  times,  eating  any  num 
ber  of  ices,  having  supper  somewhere  between  mid 
night  and  morning,  wearing  a  gown  that  cost  a  little 
fortune  in  itself,  and  doing  all  this  for  the  sake  of 
sweet  charity,  is  surely  enough,  without  going  into 
such  vulgar  details  as  to  how  much  money  was  made 
or  who  got  it.  What  if  there  is  no  money  made  ? — 
which  is  often  the  case.  The  charity  ball  has  been 
given,  and  the  upper-class  Gothamites  have  met  all 
the  proper  demands. 

Mr.  Yon  der  Plonk  was  not  an  eminent  success  as 
a  dancing  man.  Even  his  best  friends  said  so ;  but 
what  was  still  more  singular,  he  said  so  himself. 
This  simple  circumstance  in  itself,  not  the  fact  that 
he  could  not  dance  well,  but  that  he  knew  it  and 
acknowledged  it,  at  once  gave  him  high  rank. 
Indeed,  there  were  those  who  spoke  of  him  as  an  ex 
traordinary  man. 


298  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

Nor  was  he  a  special  success  as  a  society  man. 
Here  again  his  best  friends  said  so,  but  here  he  dif 
fered  with  them  out  and  out.  The  difference  of  opin 
ion,  however,  was  merely  one  of  standpoint.  Some 
people  think  that  to  achieve  social  success  one  needs 
to  be  bright,  witty,  say  sharp  things,  do  smart  things, 
thus  compelling  a  certain  measure  of  attention.  This 
was  not  Mr.  Von  der  Plonk's  idea  at  all.  He  thought 
when  he  went  to  a  dinner  and  ate  heartily,  hardly 
even  speaking  to  his  neighbors  on  either  side,  when 
he  made  the  round  of  "  afternoons  "  and  "  evenings," 
putting  in  just  so  much  time  in  each  place,  that  he 
had  done  his  whole  duty.  He  therefore  regarded 
himself  as  a  bright  and  shining  light  in  the  social 
world. 

But  most  assuredly  he  was  not  a  literary  man. 
Once  at  Fitz  Noodle's  he  took  in  to  dinner  a  Boston 
girl.  She  was  on  familiar  terms  with  Browning, 
knew  Longfellow  by  heart,  could  quote  Whittier  in 
yard  lengths,  regarded  the  "  Autocrat "  of  Holmes 
as  another  gospel,  and  simply  reveled  in  Emerson. 
O  the  hopeless  look  on  that  girl's  face  long  before 
Mrs.  Fitz  Noodle  gave  the  retiring  signal ! 

But  we  are  not  to  infer  that  there  was  anything 
the  matter  with  Yon  der  Plonk.  He  ate  well;  he 
slept  well ;  he  had  a  big,  strong,  healthy  body ;  his 
habits  were  fairly  good ;  indeed,  in  many  respects  he 
was  to  be  envied.  Mammas  having  daughters  on 
hand  regarded  him  with  favor.  Daughters,  old 
enough  to  get  along  without  mammas,  thought  kindly 
of  him.  Widows,  upon  whose  once  sorrow-stricken 
hearts  time  had  wrought  its  consoling  miracle,  looked 


ETHEL   BROMPTON'S  CHOICE.  299 

upon  him  with  yearning  approval.  The  mere  inci 
dent  that  he  was  clay  all  the  way  from  his  feet  to  his 
head — dull,  heavy,  opaque  clay ;  clay  without  any 
thing  of  soul  or  spirit,  absolutely  void  of  real  life — 
did  not  seem  to  affect  his  social  prestige  in  the  least. 

Of  course  he  had  money — much  money,  a  great 
deal  of  money — which  possibly  had  something  to  do 
with  his  general  popularity. 

"  Ethel,"  said  Janet,  one  night,  as  they  were  lan 
guidly  laying  aside  the  robes  with  which  in  the  early 
evening  they  had  gone  forth  from  conquering  to 
conquer,  "  what  are  you  going  to  do  with  Yon  der 
Plonk?" 

The  disrobing  process  had  reached  that  stage  when 
Ethel  might  sit  down  in  comparative  ease.  Ethel 
possessed  much  of  her  mother's  stateliness,  for  she 
was  tall  and  of  fine  figure.  Handsome  gowns  were 
becoming  to  her,  which  is  not  the  case  with  every 
one.  Ethel  liked  handsome  gowns  just  as  well  as 
they  liked  her.  Still,  when  one  has  been  on  dress 
parade  for  several  hours  under  inspection  by  staff 
officers,  both  male  and  female,  an  easy  chair  in  one's 
bedroom  has  much  in  its  favor.  So  she  sat  down, 
and  deliberately,  Janet  meantime  waiting  for  an  an 
swer  to  her  question. 

"  I  hardly  know  what  you  mean,"  she  was  begin 
ning,  in  her  cold,  distinct  way,  when  Janet  inter 
rupted  her  with : 

"You  know  very  well  what  I  mean,  Ethel,  and 
there  isn't  any  use  in  your  fencing  and  quibbling." 

u  Supposing  I  do  ;  is  that  any  reason  for  either  your 
asking  such  a  question  or  my  answering  it  ?" 
20 


300  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

Ethel's  face  had  now  the  same  set,  stern  look 
which  might  often  be  seen  on  her  father's. 

"  Now,  Ethel,  see  here.  You  and  I  are  sisters,  and 
while  we  often  have  our  little  bickerings  and  differ 
ences,  yet  we  are  very  fond  of  each  other.  You 
know  just  as  well  as  that  you  are  sitting  in  that  chair 
that  Hendrik  Yon  der  Plonk  means  one  of  these 
days  to  ask  you  to  marry  him.  My  question  is,  what 
are  you  going  to  say  in  reply  ? " 

"I  wish,  Janet,  you  would  let  my  affairs  alone; 
besides,  it  will  be  time  enough  when  Mr.  Von  der 
Plonk  has  spoken." 

Ethel  now  turned  her  face  to  the  fire,  looking 
sadly  and  earnestly  at  some  pictures  which  she  saw  in 
the  blazing  coals. 

"  And  I  should  like  to  know  why  I  should  not 
trouble  myself  with  your  affairs,"  was  the  quick  re 
ply  of  Janet,  though  without  the  least  anger  or  im 
patience.  "  You  are  my  only  sister.  You  are  the 
closest  and  best  friend  I  have  in  the  world.  I  am  in 
terested  in  you,  just  as  you  are  in  me,  and  in  a  mat 
ter  of  this  kind  a  nice  sister  I  would  be  if  I  was  not 
concerned." 

"  Then  if  Mr.  Von  der  Plonk  asks  me  the  question 
you  suggest  there  is  but  one  answer  which  I  can 
give,"  said  Ethel,  speaking  in  a  low,  sad  tone,  still 
looking  into  the  fire,  but  keeping  her  face  partly  hid 
den  from  Janet. 

Neither  of  the  girls  spoke  for  some  time — Ethel 
busy  with  her  fire  pictures,  Janet  turning  over  the 
pages  of  a  magazine  which  she  had  taken  from  the 
table.  But  though  they  sat  opposite  each  other  by 


ETHEL   BROMPTON'S   CHOICE.  301 

the  cheerful  fire,  their  chairs  but  a  few  feet  apart, 
neither  one  was  really  there. 

Through  the  blaze  and  glow,  as  gateways  of  flame, 
Ethel's  thoughts  had  gone  thousands  of  miles. 
Through  the  pictures  on  the  page,  as  mysterious 
doors,  Janet's  thoughts  had  gone  thousands  of  miles. 
Their  thoughts,  however,  had  not  gone  in  opposite 
directions,  but  like  "  homing"  pigeons  set  free  from 
a  ship  in  midocean,  each  had  flown  in  line  with  the 
other,  each  coming  to  the  same  destination. 

"  Won't  you  wait  for  me,  Ethel  3  "  pleaded  David 
Stanley,  as  fine  a  young  fellow  as  one  would  ask  to 
see. 

In  some  way,  through  Percy,  Stanley  had  met 
Ethel,  and  at  once  fell  in  love  with  her.  He  was  a 
great-natured,  generous  fellow,  not  shrewd,  perhaps, 
with  less  unscrupulous  ambition,  possibly,  than  many, 
but  just  the  kind  of  a  young  man  to  whom  a  girl's 
pure  heart  would  go  out  with  all  its  wealth  of  affec 
tion.  Ethel  became  deeply  interested  in  David,  al 
lowing  matters  to  go  so  far  that  David  finally  asked 
her  to  wait  for  him,  when  he  would  be  ready  to  offer 
her  a  home.  There  was  no  pledge,  no  form  of  en 
gagement  ;  she  would  not  allow  him  to  speak  to  her 
father  or  even  make  a  confidant  of  Percy.  So  far  as 
either  of  them  was  concerned  there  was  nothing  but 
a  vague  understanding.  David  went  to  South  Amer 
ica  to  take  charge  of  some  matters  in  which  the  firm 
with  which  he  was  connected  had  important  interests, 
where  he  expected  to  remain  for  two  or  three  years. 
Nothing  was  said  as  to  what  might  happen  when  he 
returned  ;  still,  there  were  certain  hopes  in  his  heart 


302  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

which  made  the  thought  of  coming  back  very  pleas 
ant  to  him. 

Mrs.  Brompton  saw  more  of  what  was  going  on 
than  anyone  imagined,  but  she  was  far  too  shrewd  to 
attempt  anything  by  way  of  opposition.  Unless  one 
is  prepared  by  sheer  strength  of  wind  to  blow  a  fire 
right  out  the  best  thing  is  not  to  blow  it  at  all.  At 
certain  stages  even  a  breath  will  fan  the  smoldering 
embers,  kindling  into  new  life  that  which  was  surely 
dying.  Hence  Mrs.  Brompton  spoke  pleasantly  of 
David  Stanley.  She  even  sympathized  with  the  pov 
erty  of  his  prospects,  regretting  that  there  was  so 
little  chance  of  his  ever  getting  on.  After  a  time  she 
went  so  far  as  to  pity  him,  intimating  that  Mr. 
Brompton  had  a  poor  opinion  of  his  business  ability  ; 
that  the  probabilities  were  against  him  ever  rising 
higher  than  a  clerkship,  and  that  he  would  most 
likely  remain  in  South  America. 

Mrs.  Brompton's  method  of  putting  out  the  fire 
was  to  throw  on  a  large  quantity  of  hard  coal,  which 
weighted  down  the  little  life  below  so  that  it  could 
not  find  any  outlet.  Then,  when  she  was  perfectly 
certain  of  the  results,  she  raked  and  poked  until  even 
the  hot  ashes  fell  through,  leaving  nothing  but  the 
cold,  shining  coal  to  fill  up  the  grate. 

Then  in  that  delicate,  motherly  way  of  hers  she 
spoke  of  young  Yon  der  Plonk,  but  she  was  careful 
not  to  throw  him  at  Ethel's  head. 

Mrs.  Brompton  probably  knew  nothing  of  the 
mysteries  of  chess,  or  the  importance  of  seeming  to 
play  the  game  on  one  part  of  the  board  when  in 
reality  the  game  is  on  another  part.  But  this  was 


ETHEL   BROMPTON'S  CHOICE.  303 

just  what  she  was  doing.  Using  Yon  der  Plonk  as 
the  "  king,"  she  showed  how  strong  was  the  attack  of 
certain  of  Ethel's  friends  :  how  Miss  Fitz  Noodle 
smirked  and  smiled  when  his  name  was  linked  with 
hers ;  how  Mrs.  Harlem,  a  heartless  widow,  though 
not  yet  twenty-five,  was  making  a  dead  set  for  him. 
In  this  way  and  in  others  she  led  Ethel  to  that  side 
of  the  board,  calling  her  off  from  the  real  point  of 
the  game.  Chess,  whether  played  with  boxwood 
pieces  or  things  of  flesh  and  blood,  is  capable  of  fine 
strategy,  though,  after  all,  the  game  usually  comes  to 
the  one  who  makes  the  fewest  mistakes.  Mrs. 
Brornpton  may  not  have  been  either  brilliant  or  dar 
ing  in  her  play,  but  she  seldom  made  mistakes. 

The  result  was  that  Hendrik  Yon  der  Plonk  had 
been  practically  accepted  by  Ethel.  Only  the  for 
malities  remained. 

"And  what  will  you  do  with  David  Stanley  ? " 
Janet  said,  after  a  long  pause. 

"  What  have  I  to  do  with  David  Stanley  ?  "  Ethel 
questioned,  in  turn,  now  turning  her  face  from  the 
fire  and  looking  almost  angrily  at  Janet. 

"He  may  think  that  you  have  something  to  do 
with  him.  You  know  better  far  than  I  do  that  he 
has  a  right  to  think  so." 

Janet  answered  with  frank  fearlessness ;  perhaps 
indignation  would  be  a  better  term,  for  she  was 
angry  with  Ethel. 

The  sisters  soon  parted  for  the  night — Janet  going 
to  her  room  much  troubled  about  her  sister,  still  able 
to  sleep  a  sweet,  pure,  healthy  sleep,  rising  in  the 
morning  with  clear  eyes  and  light  heart ;  Ethel  going 


304  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

to  her  room  not  to  sleep  at  all,  only  to  spend  the 
night  in  tearless  agony. 

Mr.  Faber,  had  he  known  as  much  of  the  Bromp- 
ton  household  as  he  did  of  politics,  could  easily  have 
added  to  his  chapter  on  "  The  Kingdoms  of  the 
World  "  and  the  crowds  who  worship  at  the  altar  of 
ambition.  For  here  was  Ethel  Brompton  deliber 
ately  putting  aside  the  love  of  a  good,  true  man  to 
obtain  simply  a  wealth  upon  which  her  soul  was  set. 

The  next  morning  when  Ethel  came  down  to 
breakfast  she  was  very  pale  and  had  heavy  rings 
under  her  eyes.  Her  mouth,  though,  w;is  firmly  set, 
and  the  determined  look  was  on  her  face. 

That  evening  Hendrik  Yon  der  Plonk  asked  her 
to  marry  him,  and  she  consented  to  do  so. 


JOHN    DISNEY    HITS   HARD.  305 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
John  Disney  Hits  Hard. 

rrOHN  DISNEY'S  scheme,  though  well  meant,' 
\  was,  after  all,  more  romantic  than  practical. 
(*J  "What  could  he  really  learn  of  the  hard,  narrow 
life  of  the  average  workman  by  the  plan  he  pro 
posed  ?  Suppose  he  did  get  up  early  in  the  morning, 
being  at  his  office  in  time  to  see  the  men  begin  the 
work  of  the  day.  Suppose  he  did  remain  at  his  post 
until  the  last  workman  had  left  the  premises  and  the 
place  was  put  in  charge  of  the  night  watchman. 
Suppose  he  did  try  in  every  possible  way  to  bring 
himself  into  close  touch  with  all  classes  of  the  men 
and  make  his  life  almost  a  part  of  theirs.  "What  was 
gained  ?  Nothing  of  any  moment.  John  Disney 
was  not  required,  when  his  day's  work  was  done,  to 
trudge  wearily  to  some  cheap  tenement  of  two  or 
three  small  rooms  in  some  crowded,  common  neigh 
borhood,  where  the  evening  and  the  night  would  be 
spent  under  the  most  barren  conditions.  Neither 
could  he  put  himself  in  the  place  of  some  of  these 
men  who  would  go  home  to  a  sick  wife  or  a  sick 
child,  remaining  all  night  at  the  bedside  of  the  poor 
sufferer,  snatching  now  and  then  a  few  minutes  of 
disjointed  sleep,  then  on  the  morrow  weary  and 
jaded  begin  the  work  of  another  day. 

Nor  was  he  compelled  when    Saturday   came  to 
distribute  his  wages  over  the  wants  of  a  household, 


306  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

so  much  for  rent,  so  much  for  coal,  so  much  for  food, 
so  much  for  clothing,  only  to  find  that  with  the 
utmost  care  many  things  were  unprovided  for. 

Nor  did  any  inexorable  law  demand  that  he — in 
hot  weather  or  cold  weather,  in  dark  winter's  morn 
ing  or  glare  of  summer  noon,  whether  sick  or  well, 
whether  glad  or  broken-hearted — should  answer  the 
merciless  call  of  the  steam  whistle;  then,  having 
answered  the  call,  work  all  day  long,  just  as  one  of 
the  machines  in  the  mill.  The  monotony,  the  dull, 
wearisome  routine,  the  drudgery,  the  sense  of  a 
labor  from  which  there  is  no  escape,  the  terrible  hope 
lessness  of  it  all — these  were  the  things  John  Dis 
ney  could  not  know. 

Still,  in  himself  certain  good  was  being  done.  He 
was  acquiring  a  broader  humanity.  His  sympathies 
were  deepening  as  well  as  becoming  more  genuine. 
A  truer  sense  of  brotherhood  was  being  developed. 
The  hundreds  of  men  who  came  in  and  out  every 
day  were  creatures  of  flesh  and  blood,  each  the  center 
of  a  little  world  of  his  own. 

The  first  one  to  attract  him  especially  was  Fred 
Sauvier.  This,  however,  was  only  natural,  seeing 
they  were  in  the  same  office,  and  their  work  brought 
them  into  familiar  contact.  Fred  had  charge  of  the 
"  time  "  of  the  men — no  small  matter  in  an  establish 
ment  so  large  as  this  one.  The  "  time  "  was  taken 
from  the  books  of  the  foremen  in  the  several  depart 
ments,  every  hour  on  or  off  meaning  just  so  much 
in  the  wages  of  the  men. 

Evan  Evans  was  a  hard-working  fellow,  who  could 
ill  afford  to  lose  that  half  day  when  he  overslept  him- 


JOHN    DISNEY   HITS   HARD.  307 

self  because  he  had  been  up  nearly  all  the  night  be 
fore  with  his  sick  boy.  But  when  Saturday  came  the 
half  day  was  gone  from  his  pay,  leaving  the  little 
family  with  so  much  less  to  live  on. 

Dennis  Doolin  must  needs  attend  the  funeral  of 
Michael  Muldoon,  for  was  not  the  late  Mr.  Muldoon 
"  the  broth  av  a  bhoy  "  as  well  as  "  all  the  way  from 
Galway  ? "  Grief,  though,  is  an  expensive  luxury,  for 
when  Dennis  received  his  wages  on  the  following 
pay  day  a  whole  day  was  gone,  much  to  the  regret 
of  Mrs.  Doolin. 

Pietro  Farino  is  so  eminently  religious  that  quite 
frequently  a  saint's  day  demands  his  pious  recogni 
tion.  His  absence,  though  regretted,  is  carefully  re 
membered.  He  therefore  eats  less  onions  and  mac 
aroni  for  some  days  to  come. 

Tommy  Jones  thinks  the  sun  rises  but  rarely 
sets  on  Belinda  Smith.  He  is  saving  up  his  extra 
earnings  with  which  to  buy  an  imposing  bracelet  for 
her  birthday.  The  two  hours  overtime  which  he  put 
in  every  evening  for  a  week  is  charged  faithfully  to 
his  credit.  His  name,  then,  on  the  next  pay  day,  if 
written  according  to  his  feelings,  would  be  Thomas 
Jones,  Esq. 

To  keep  the  "  time  "  was  a  work  of  much  respon 
sibility.  Such  a  man  could  easily  be  dishonest.  He 
might  secure  for  himself  favor  with  the  men.  To 
go  shares  would  not  be  a  difficult  arrangement,  mark 
ing  men  "  in  "  when  they  were  "  out ; "  for  such  things 
have  been  done  not  only  in  mills  and  machine  shops, 
but  in  other  places  as  well. 

But  Fred   Sauvier  was  of  the  rigidly  honest  type. 


308  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 

He  would  put  a  mark  against  himself  with  even  less 
hesitation  than  against  Dennis  Doolin  or  Pietro  Fa- 
rino.  Consequently  there  was  a  little  handful  of 
men  who  looked  upon  him  in  the  light  of  a  mortal 
enemy ;  for  there  are  some  who  believe  that  corpora 
tions  have  no  souls,  and  may  be  robbed  without  breach 
of  any  known  commandment. 

John  Disney  found  Sauvier  to  be  an  active,  intel 
ligent,  and  fairly  ambitious  young  fellow.  Sauvier 
had  no  definite  idea  as  to  who  John  Disney  really 
was,  for  though  it  was  through  Mark  Brompton  his 
place  in  the  office  had  been  secured,  yet  that  meant 
nothing,  as  it  was  always  by  the  influence  of  some  of 
the  directors  that  the  clerks  were  engaged. 

They  were  about  closing  up  the  work  for  the  day, 
and  had  a  few  minutes  of  comparatively  idle  time. 
They  chatted,  therefore,  as  young  men  will. 

"  I  have  been  here  several  years,"  Sauvier  said,  in 
reply  to  a  question  of  John.  "  I  got  in  as  an  errand 
boy ;  after  some  time  I  was  put  in  the  office,  so  grad 
ually  I  have  crept  along." 

"  You  have  seen  a  good  many  changes  since  you 
came  in  ? " 

"  Yes,  a  good  many." 

"For  the  better?" 

"No,  I  can't  say  that.  When  I  first  came  here 
this  was  an  individual  concern.  Mr.  Mallable  was 
the  owner — a  fine,  generous-hearted  man  who  had 
worked  his  way  up  from  'puddling.'  He  knew 
every  man  in  the  place,  could  call  them  by  name  and 
was  interested  in  them.  They  say  that  there  wasn't 
a  strike  or  any  kind  of  a  disagreement  for  the  whole 


JOHN    DISNEY   HITS   HARD.  309 

thirty  years  that  he  ran  the  concern.  His  daughter, 
the  only  child  he  had,  married  a  Mr.  Bessemer,  who, 
at  Mr.  Mallable's  death,  about  five  years  ago,  suc 
ceeded  to  the  business.  Shortly  after  Mr.  Bessemer 
turned  the  concern  into  a  stock  company.  Since  then 
things  haven't  been  the  same." 

"  In  what  way  ?  I  should  have  thought  that  a 
stock  company  bringing  in  fresh  capital  would  have 
built  up  the  business." 

"  One  would  think  so  at  first,  but  you  see  Mr. 
Bessemer  sold  out  at  a  very  high  valuation,  so  divi 
dends  had  then  to  be  made  on  the  whole  amount." 

"  I  am  afraid  I  don't  quite  get  your  meaning." 

"Then  let  me  explain.  Mr.  Mallable  regarded 
the  concern — machinery,  buildings,  trade,  good-will, 
the  whole  plant  in  short — as  worth  about  half  a  mil 
lion.  When  he  made  anything  like  a  fair  profit  on 
that  amount  he  was  perfectly  satisfied.  Now,  Mr. 
Bessemer  sold  the  concern  to  the  new  company  for  a 
million.  Consequently  it  had  to  make  twice  as  much 
as  before  so  as  to  keep  up  the  old  rate  of  profits." 

"  O,  I  see.  If  the  old  concern  after  paying  ex 
penses  made,  say,  thirty  thousand  a  year,  the  new 
concern  had  to  make  sixty  thousand  out  of  the  same 
actual  capital." 

"  Exactly ;  which  meant  all  kinds  of  economies, 
scaling  down  wages,  scrimping  in  work,  using  all 
sorts  of  odds  and  ends,  and  not  turning  out  anything 
like  the  quality  of  stuff  as  in  Mr.  Mallable's  time." 

"The  concern,  though,  is  running  full  time?" 

"  Yes,  but  it  is  not  the  kind  of  work  that  really 
pays." 


310  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"  You  mean,  then,  that  the  outlook  for  this  concern 
is  not  very  good  ? " 

"  Well,  I  hardly  know  just  how  to  put  it.  You 
see,  now  that  the  concern  is  a  corporation,  there  is  no 
individual  responsibility  one  way  or  the  other.  What 
the  directors  care  for  is  dividends.  What  the  men 
care  for  is  wages.  Each  is  thinking  of  himself; 
neither  is  thinking  of  the  others.  When  orders  are 
coming  in  with  a  rush  the  men  strike  for  higher 
wages.  When  trade  slacks  off  the  directors  cut  the 
wages  down.  There  is  no  such  thing  in  this  estab 
lishment  as  master  and  man.  The  master  is  simply 
a  calculating  machine,  the  man  a  working  machine." 

"  But  in  these  days  business  has  taken  on  such 
larger  forms  that  we  require  the  corporation." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  replied  Sauvier,  gath 
ering  up  some  books  that  were  on  his  desk,  prepar 
atory  to  putting  them  in  the  office  safe;  "there  is 
usually  some  one  man  at  the  head  of  every  concern, 
whether  it  be  a  corporation  or  not.  But  the  fact  is 
when  a  man  has  a  nice  business  he  is  not  content 
with  a  fair  living.  He  turns  it  into  a  stock  company. 
He  makes  himself  president,  his  eldest  son  vice-presi 
dent,  and  so  on  down  the  list  on  both  sides  of  the  house. 
The  result  is  that  the  men's  wages  are  cut  down  to 
meet  the  big  salaries  of  a  lot  of  officials." 

"Then  you  don't  like  the  present  condition  of 
things,"  said  John  Disney,  turning  from  the  wash 
bowl  in  the  corner  of  the  office  where  he  had  been 
washing  his  hands,  and  was  now  drying  them  off 
on  a  coarse  towel. 

"  Frankly,  I  do  not,"  Sanvier  responded.     "  The 


JOHN   DISNEY   HITS  HARD.  311 

only  people  who  do  are  the  officials  and  their 
friends." 

The  office  which  Fred  Sauvier  and  John  Disney 
occupied  was,  perhaps,  as  much  of  a  gatehouse  as 
an  office,  the  main  office  being  quite  a  pretentious 
aifair. 

The  chief  clerks  in  the  main  office  were  very  im 
portant  individuals.  Mr.  Falcon,  the  head  book 
keeper,  condescended  to  appear  every  morning  about 
ten  o'clock,  then  remaining  with  more  or  less  regular 
ity  until  two  or  even  three.  This  was  very  kind  of 
Mr.  Falcon,  seeing  that  he  was  married  to  a  sister  of 
one  of  the  directors.  Mr.  Stubbs,  the  cashier,  was 
equally  as  gracious,  and  as  he  was  the  nephew  of  the 
president  of  the  company  the  very  fact  that  he  came 
to  the  office  at  all  was  an  act  of  the  most  extreme 
courtesy.  Mr.  Stafford,  to  whom  was  intrusted 
most  of  the  general  correspondence,  and  whose  sig 
nature  at  the  foot  of  a  typewritten  document  was 
magnificently  illegible,  enjoyed  the  distinction  of 
being  the  son-in-law  of  the  vice-president.  Mr. 
Stafford's  duties  were  not  arduous  ;  his  salary, 
though,  was  based  on  the  general  principle  in  such 
cases — the  less  work  the  more  pay.  All  told,  there 
were  ten  of  them  in  the  main  office.  Under  these 
was  a  little  army  of  junior  clerks,  typewriters,  down 
to  office  boys. 

"  That  Disney  fellow  is  rather  airy,  is  he  not  ? " 
said  Mr.  Stubbs  to  Mr.  Falcon,  as  he  somewhat 
languidly  laid  down  the  morning  paper,  though  not 
before  he  had  read  the  racing  and  theatrical  news,  for 
Mr.  Stubbs  had  sporting  tendencies. 


312  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"  You  mean  the  Pill  Box  over  there  in  the  gate 
house  ? "  replied  Mr.  Falcon,  who  had  heard  in  an 
incidental  way  that  John  Disney's  father  was  a  doctor. 
He  assumed  that  the  practice  was  limited  and  that  the 
new  clerk  was  eking  out  the  family  income.  "  For 
a  ten-dollar  craft  he  carries  altogether  too  much 
sail." 

Mr.  Falcon  was  the  owner  of  a  tenth  in  a  cat- 
boat.  His  use  of  nautical  terms  was,  therefore, 
quite  natural,  as  well  as  proper. 

"  I  should  say  so !  "  said  Mr.  Stafford,  looking  up 
from  a  letter  which  he  was  writing,  said  letter,  how 
ever,  having  no  reference  to  the  business  of  the  firm, 
being  a  crushing  and  masterly  reply  to  his  tailor, 
who  had  the  impudence  to  ask  him  for  payment  of 
a  bill  when  it  was  only  two  years  due.  "  I  went  in 
to  that  cubby-hole  yesterday  to  get  him  to  do  an 
errand  for  me,  and  the  fellow  refused  point-blank. 
Indeed,  he  even  suggested  in  the  most  lordly  way 
that  he  was  not  hired  to  do  that  kind  of  work.  A 
hint  to  the  V.  P.  will—" 

Mr.  Stafford  did  not  say  what  the  hint  would 
bring  forth,  but  resumed  his  writing.  Mr.  Stubbs 
once  more  took  up  the  morning  paper,  this  time 
giving  his  undivided  energies  to  the  baseball  column. 
Mr.  Falcon  proceeded  to  draw  a  rough  sketch  of  a 
proposed  boathouse  which  he  intended  to  submit  to 
the  Cutty  Hunk  Yacht  Club.  Thus  went  on  the 
hard,  grinding  work  of  these  sons  of  toil,  who  were 
also  sons-in-law  of  directors  and  shareholders. 

John  Disney,  remarkable  as  it  may  seem,  was  not 
affected  by  the  haughty  bearing  of  these  august  and 


JOHN    DISNEY    HITS   HARD.  313 

imposing  personages,  but  went  on  with  a  serenity 
which  they  could  not  understand. 

On  this  particular  evening  after  Fred  Sauvier  had 
set  the  safe  "  combination,"  and  the  office  generally 
had  been  put  to  rights,  it  was  about  time  for  the 
night  watchman  to  come. 

"  How  careful  Wilkins  is  not  to  arrive  a  minute 
before  his  time  !  "  John  said,  somewhat  impatiently. 
He  had  an  engagement  that  evening  to  go  out  with 
Madge,  so  was  anxious  to  get  away. 

"  No  more  careful  than  we  are  not  to  remain  a 
minute  after  our  time,"  was  the  smiling  response  of 
Sauvier.  "  You  see  how  this  illustrates  our  con 
versation." 

"  You  have  had  your  innings  so  far,"  said  John, 
who  was  a  very  Scotchman  in  his  love  of  an  argu 
ment.  "  Every  question  has  two  sides.  The  other 
side  has  yet  to  bat." 

Just  then  Wilkins  came  in,  and  the  two  clerks 
were  soon  on  their  way  home. 

Though  the  days  had  lengthened  quite  perceptibly 
since  that  night,  a  few  weeks  before,  when  Edward 
Vaughen  walked  down  Broadway,  afterward  seeing 
Dr.  Disney  in  the  office  of  Keen  &  Sharp,  still  it  was 
comparatively  dark  as  they  made  their  way  to  the 
corner  where  they  usually  bade  each  other  good 
night.  Hence  neither  of  them  noticed  a  gang  of 
rough-looking  men  who  had  followed  them  all  the 
way  from  the  office,  though  at  such  a  distance  that 
even  had  they  noticed  them  no  suspicions  would  have 
been  aroused. 

In  this  part  of  the  city  there  is  not  much  regard 


314  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

for  the  niceties  of  the  law.  The  man  whose  busi 
ness  takes  him  to  this  neighborhood,  once  night  has 
set  in,  needs  to  be  very  careful.  In  the  daytime 
there  is  usually  so  much  traffic  and  travel  of  one  kind 
and  another  that  the  streets  are  comparatively  safe, 
but  at  night  the  dark  gateways,  the  deserted  store 
houses,  the  high  buildings,  in  which  there  is  no 
light  whatever,  easily  make  possible  almost  any 
form  of  crime. 

On  reaching  the  corner,  the  young  men  parted. 
John  starting  out  in  his  usual  brisk  way,  walking 
across  to  where  he  would  get  a  car,  but  he  had  only 
gone  a  short  distance  when  he  heard  the  noise  of 
angry  voices,  then  a  loud  cry  for  help,  and  then  al 
most  instantly,  "  Disney !  Disney ! " 

It  at  once  flashed  upon  him  that  the  voice  was  that 
of  Sauvier.  Like  a  deer  he  ran  to  the  place  from 
where  the  cries  came,  to  find  Sauvier  surrounded  by 
some  half  dozen  burly  ruffians,  against  whom  he  was 
bravely  defending  himself.  It  was  not  long  before 
John  was  at  the  side  of  Sauvier,  dealing  a  tremen 
dous  blow  at  one  fellow  who  had  Fred  by  the  throat, 
which  caused  him  to  let  go  his  hold  and  stagger  to 
the  ground. 

But  this  only  infuriated  the  others,  who  rushed 
at  John  like  so  many  mad  bulls.  John,  however, 
had  his  wits  all  about  him,  and  already  had  backed  up 
against  the  wall,  so  as  not  to  be  struck  from  behind. 

Now,  in  the  very  first  chapter  of  these  most  accu 
rate  and  trustworthy  chronicles  it  is  stated  with  great 
clearness  that  John  Disney  could  "  don  the  gloves," 
an  accomplishment  which  some  people  regard  with 


JOHN    DISNEY   HITS   HARD.  315 

disfavor.  At  this  particular  time  the  skill  thus  ac 
quired  was  of  more  value  to  him  than  all  the  rest  of 
his  college  work,  for  he  was  able  to  parry  and  strike 
with  an  ease  and  a  force  which  under  the  circum 
stances  were  highly  desirable.  Even  in  fighting,  the 
scientific  method  has  points  of  advantage  which 
count  very  materially.  The  man  who  knows  just 
where  to  hit  and  how  to  hit  is  usually  able  to  give  a 
good  account  of  himself. 

But  two  against  six,  for  the  first  man  had  now 
resumed  his  place  among  the  combatants,  means  that 
in  the  end  the  six  are  likely  to  prevail,  unless  the  two 
in  some  way  are  reinforced,  or  special  means  taken 
to  dispose  of  the  six.  As  there  was  no  Bliicher  any 
where  in  sight,  and  as  Sauvier  was  not  holding  his 
own  against  his  proportion  of  the  enemy,  John  de 
termined  to  assume  the  offensive,  and  that  in  a  most 
vigorous  way.  "Watching  his  chance,  he  threw  him 
self  with  all  his  might  against  the  most  vicious  of  his 
opponents;  then,  before  the  fellow  had  recovered 
from  the  shock,  quick  as  lightning  he  had  his  arms 
around  his  waist,  locked  one  hand  over  the  other,  and 
gave  the  ruffian  a  squeeze  which  caused  him  to  leap 
almost  a  foot  in  the  air,  crying  out  for  very  pain, 
and  fall  helpless  on  the  ground. 

John  was  now  in  a  splendid  rage,  just  in  that  mood 
when  he  would  kill  without  mercy,  for  when  he  was 
angered  to  the  full  he  had  the  remorseless  spirit  of  a 
gladiator.  With  the  same  passion,  therefore,  he  flung 
himself  upon  another  man,  performing  the  same  feat 
as  before,  his  strength  only  seeming  to  increase  with 
his  rage. 
21 


316  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

The  others,  seeing  the  mighty  wrath  of  this  young 
Goliath,  fell  back  a  few  paces,  but  John  rushed  upon 
them  with  terrible  fury,  hitting  one  fellow  with  such 
force  that  he  fell  crashing  over  some  crates  and 
empty  boxes  which  littered  that  part  of  the  street. 
The  other  three  now  slunk  away,  though  not  until 
one  of  them  came  behind  Fred  Sauvier,  who  for  the 
moment  was  off  his  guard,  and  striking  him  on  the 
head  knocked  him  almost  senseless. 

Just  now  a  policeman  came  running  up,  who  at 
once  whistled  for  help,  when  another  officer  soon  ap 
peared.  The  two  men  with  whom  John  had  been  so 
righteously  unmerciful  had  crawled  into  the  shadow  of 
a  gateway,  but  they  were  soon  discovered.  The  other 
one  was  gathered  out  of  the  crates  and  boxes,  and  the 
precious  trio  were  inarched  to  the  police  station. 
Other  policemen,  meantime,  had  arrived,  two  of 
whom  took  Fred  Sauvier,  one  by  each  arm,  for  poor 
Fred  was  pretty  well  used  up.  At  the  police  sta 
tion,  however,  he  recovered  sufficiently  to  give  a  gen 
eral  account  of  the  proceedings.  After  the  usual 
course  in  such  cases — identification  and  lodging 
formal  complaint  against  the  prisoners — a  carriage 
was  called  to  take  Fred  and  John  home.  At  that 
particular  moment  John  Disney  was,  so  far  as 
appearance  goes,  a  most  disreputable-looking  young 
man.  His  coat  and  vest  were  nearly  torn  to  pieces. 
His  face  was  all  scratched  and  battered.  Spatterings 
of  blood  and  daubings  of  mud  were  plentifully  dis 
tributed  all  over  him.  The  spick-span  dapper  fellow 
who  left  his  home  that  morning  would  now  not  be 
recognized  by  even  his  own  mother.  Fred  Sauvier 


JOHN    DISNEY   HITS   HARD.  317 

had  not  fared  quite  so  badly  by  way  of  wounds  and 
scratches.  His  real  injuries,  however,  were  more 
serious. 

It  was  late  when  they  reached  the  Sauviers',  for 
some  time  had  been  spent  in  the  police  station.  Mrs. 
Sauvier  and  Oberta  were  both  beginning  to  think 
that  something  must  have  happened,  when  in  Fred 
walked,  closely  followed  by  John.  There  was  the 
usual  little  shrieking  and  "  oh-ing,"  but  the  Sauviers 
were  sensible  people  and  soon  recovered  from  their 
fright. 

In  a  few  minutes  John  got  up  to  go  home,  when 
Fred  took  him  by  the  arm  and,  turning  to  his 
mother,  said : 

"  Mother,  you  have  Mr.  Disney  to  thank  for  my 
being  here  at  all.  He  saved  my  life  at  the  risk  of  his 
own." 

Mrs.  Sauvier  looked  at  John  in  a  dazed,  bewildered 
way,  sinking  faint  and  helpless  into  a  chair.  John 
very  naturally  thought  that  the  fright  and  excite 
ment  of  the  past  half  hour  were  too  much  for  her. 
Even  Oberta,  quick-witted  as  she  was,  did  not  asso 
ciate  her  mother's  strange  condition  with  the  mention 
of  the  name  of  Disney. 


318  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTEK  XXXIV. 

An  Evening  at  Mr.  Keen's. 

WHAT  story  in  all  literature  has  caused  more 
heart  throbbings  or  awakened  such  pro 
found  interest  as  that  of  a  certain  ancient 
dame  whose  progeny  was  so  numerous  as  to  disturb 
her  peace  by  day,  while  at  night  she  pillowed  her 
distracted  head  under  a  leathern  roof?  What  pa 
thetic  pictures  have  come  to  our  minds  when  we  have 
thought  of  this  sorely  troubled  mother,  whose  off 
spring  gave  her  such  painful  anxiety !  It  is  possible 
that  had  she  not  chosen  such  a  singular  place  of 
abode,  but  contented  herself  with  a  home  of  the  reg 
ular  order,  her  children  might  not  have  been  either 
so  restless  or  unruly.  But,  be  that  as  it  may,  the  fact 
remained,  embalmed  even  in  poetry,  that  this  woman 
"did  not  know  what  to  do."  In  the  thrilling  but 
pathetic  narrative  we  learn  that  she  was  forced 
finally  to  adopt  a  treatment  which  was  at  once  both 
drastic  and  heroic.  There  the  story  ends.  To  stop 
at  the  right  time  is  more  than  art — it  is  genius. 

It  would  hardly  be  true  to  say  that  Mrs.  Yaughen 
was  in  anything  like  the  plight  of  the  much-harassed 
female  referred  to.  She  was  troubled,  though,  about 
Edward — troubled,  too,  in  a  way  that  gave  her  se 
rious  concern.  Knowing  that  he  was  high-spirited  to 
a  degree  which  might  be  considered  romantic,  with 
a  sort  of  honor  of  the  ancient  knighthood  type  ;  fully 


AN    EVENING  AT    MR.    KEEN'S.  319 

aware  of  his  obligations  to  Mark  Broinpton ;  con 
scious  also  of  the  duty  which  he  owed  to  his  employ 
ers  ;  deeply  in  love  with  Rhea  Keen — his  position, 
when  all  these  things  are  borne  in  mind,  was  one  of 
much  complexity. 

Like  a  wise  young  man,  he  wrote  to  his  mother, 
fully  stating  the  case.  Like  a  wise  mother,  she  wrote 
back  almost  at  once,  refusing  anything  in  the  way  of 
positive  advice.  To  refrain  from  giving  advice  shows 
great  strength  of  mind.  If  people  are  ever  to  be 
worth  their  salt  in  this  world — or  any  other — they 
must  learn  to  work  out  their  own  salvation.  Edward 
was  now  of  age.  He  was  on  the  ground.  It  was  his 
life  in  which  the  battle  had  to  be  fought.  Mrs. 
Vaughen  therefore  left  with  him  the  responsibility 
of  deciding.  At  first  he  was  tempted  to  give  up  his 
position  in  the  office  of  Keen  &  Sharp.  But  this 
would  surely  offend  his  Uncle  Mark.  Then  he 
thought  of  making  a  confidant  of  Mr.  Singleton.  But 
this  would  be  treachery  to  Mr.  Faber.  And  all  the 
while  there  was  his  love  for  Miss  Keen,  only  adding 
to  the  difficulty  of  the  situation. 

What,  then,  could  he  do  ?  He  was  like  a  man 
flung  into  the  sea,  with  a  life-preserver  fastened  so 
around  him  that  he  could  not  drown,  but  with  his 
hands  and  feet  bound,  making  swimming  impossible. 
All  he  could  do  was  float  and  drift  with  the  tide. 

The  only  thing  which  surprised  Mark  Brompton 
in  his  conversation  with  Edward  Vaughen  was  to  learn 
definitely  that  Keen  &  Sharp  were  the  parties  who 
had  charge  of  the  "deal"  by  which  he  would  be 
forced  into  a  losing  game. 


320  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

For  some  years  Mr.  Brompton  had  recognized  the 
feasibility  of  a  great  railroad  system  in  the  West  and 
South,  connecting  a  number  of  roads  which  were 
now  in  opposition.  Without  acquainting  anyone  of 
his  purpose  he  began  buying  up  large  blocks  of  these 
various  stocks.  This  buying  had  been  going  on  for 
some  time,  so  that  his  holdings  were  enormous.  Vir 
tually  he  had  the  market  in  his  hand.  To  perfect 
the  system  one  short  connection  was  necessary.  It 
was  therefore  of  the  utmost  importance  that  this  be 
secured.  For  years  that  stock  was  practically  value 
less.  It  had  not  paid  any  dividends  for  a  long  time, 
and  the  chances  were  that  it  would  never  pay  any. 
Mr.  Brompton  had  his  agents  on  the  lookout  among 
the  farmers  and  country  people  for  such  of  this  stock 
as  could  be  found.  Quiet,  innocent-looking  men 
these  agents  were.  Some  of  them  were  so  demure 
and  pious-looking  that  they  seemed  more  like  Bible 
distributers  or  Tract  Society  visitors  than  anything 
else. 

"Ah  calcurlate  that  er  money  is  just  as  good  as 
found,"  old  Jake  Heymough  said  to  his  wife,  after 
Mr.  Brompton's  agent  had  gone  and  he  was  counting 
over  the  roll  of  bills  which  the  agent  had  given  him 
in  exchange  for  his  stock. 

"  'Tisn't  quite  writ  in  the  Book  about  a  fool  an'  his 
money  bein'  soon  parted  ;  it's  true,  though,"  said 
Deacon  Swingsyth,  after  he  had  disposed  of  what  to 
him  was  only  a  useless  piece  of  paper.  Deacon 
Swingsyth  did  not  make  this  remark  in  the  presence 
of  Mr.  Brompton's  agent,  a  mild,  soft-voiced  young 
man. 


AN    EVENING   AT   MR.    KEEN'S.  321 

"  For  'sperimentin',  I  s'pose  ? "  questioned  Squire 
Bredstock.  "  Good,  nice  road ;  well  built — just  the 
road  for  'speriments."  The  squire  could  speak  feel 
ingly  with  regard  to  "  'speriments."  His  stock  in 
the  X.,  Y.  &  Z.  had  not,  though,  been  quite  the  suc 
cess  he  so  confidently  expected. 

So  the  buying  went  on,  every  little  while  another 
certificate  coining  in  to  Mr.  Brompton.  One  thing 
certain — he  had  enough  of  that  stock  quietly  laid 
away  to  give  him  control.  Keen  &  Sharp  never 
dreamed  of  what  Mark  Brompton  had  done.  They 
knew,  however,  that  there  was  a  "  big  deal "  on  hand. 
They  knew  also  that  the  purpose  of  this  deal  was  to 
give  Mark  Brompton  a  squeeze  to  which  the  hug  of 
a  Russian  bear  would  be  only  a  gentle  embrace. 

"Young  Brompton  was  in  the  office  this  morning. 
He  seems  quite  intimate  with  Yaughen.  They  went 
out  together  at  lunch  time." 

Mr.  Keen  made  these  remarks  to  Khea  one  even 
ing,  not,  however,  looking  up  from  the  paper  which 
he  was  scanning  with  some  care. 

"  That  is  only  natural,  seeing  they  are  cousins," 
Miss  Keen  answered,  rising  from  her  chair  as  she 
spoke,  and  going  over  to  another  part  of  the  room 
where  her  face  would  be  more  in  the  shadow. 

"  Now  that  your  mother  is  so  much  better,"  he 
went  on,  after  a  short  pause,  still  looking  at  the  paper, 
"  you  ought  to  have  a  little  gathering  of  your  friends 
sometime  soon." 

"  Would  it  not  be  better  to  wait  so  that  mamma 
can  take  her  usual  place?  Two  or  three  of  her  affairs 
have  been  postponed." 


322  DWELLERS  IN    GOTHAM. 

"  O,  I  don't  mean  anything  formal.  Just  a  few  of 
your  own  friends — the  young  people  of  the  Broinp- 
tons,  and  the  Disneys,  and  two  or  three  others. 
Of  course  you  will  have  to  invite  Von  der  Plonk, 
also  that  radical  parson,  Dunbar,  who  means  to  con 
vert  the  East  Side  into  a  public  park  and  have  me 
chanics  ride  about  in  carriages.  When  a  parson  sets 
out  to  be  a  fool  he  usually  makes  a  big  success  of  it. 
Vaughen,  I  suppose,  had  better  come." 

Though  Mr.  Keen  was  very  much  absorbed  in 
business,  giving  his  entire  time  almost  to  the  special 
matters  which  were  now  on  hand,  yet  he  had  noticed 
that  Rhea  looked  anxious  and  careworn.  This  he 
attributed  to  the  illness  of  her  mother ;  for  sickness, 
when  long  continued,  always  depresses  and  exhausts 
the  household.  Hence  he  proposed  some  little  break 
in  the  monotony  of  Rhea's  life,  with  the  hope  of 
arousing  her  to  her  former  brightness  and  vigor. 

But  there  was  another  motive  at  work.  Now  that 
Madge  Disney  was  accepting  the  evident  attentions 
of  Hugh  Dunbar,  there  was  no  reason  why  Percy 
Brompton  should  not  become  in  good  time  a  member 
of  the  Keen  household.  If  his  present  plans  resulted 
successfully  Mr.  Keen  would  make  considerable 
money.  But  what  to  him  was  of  even  more  conse 
quence  than  the  money,  he  would  have  an  assured  po 
sition  as  the  leader  of  new  and  important  movements. 
The  fact  that  both  the  money  and  the  leadership 
would  be  at  Mark  Brompton's  expense  had  no  weight 
with  him.  His  understanding  of  life  was  simply 
every  man  for  himself. 

Then,  on  the  other  hand,  if  by  any  means  his  plans 


AN    EVENING   AT   MR.    KEEN'S.  323 

failed — though  he  could  not  imagine  such  a  thing 
possible — the  engagement,  perhaps  marriage,  of  his 
daughter  to  Percy  Brompton  would  be  as  an  anchor 
to  the  windward,  so  that  he  could  easily  outride  the 
storm. 

If  anyone  had  told  Mr.  Keen  that  he  was  now  on 
that  awful  mountain  top  where  the  most  terrible 
temptations  of  life  are  experienced  he  would  have 
turned  away  with  an  incredulous  smile,  or  even 
laughed  outright  at  the  mediaeval  suggestion.  And 
yet  he  was  on  that  mountain  top.  To  gratify  his 
ambitions  he  had  cast  aside  almost  everything  of 
honesty.  He  was  working  treacherously  against  the 
man  who  had  befriended  him.  Yea,  he  would  ac 
tually  sell  his  daughter  to  that  man's  son,  counting 
out  as  of  no  moment  whatever  the  possibilities  of  her 
lifelong  misery  ! 

"O,  you  should  have  seen  John!"  said  Madge 
Disney,  in  her  lively,  impetuous  way — a  way  which 
not  infrequently  resulted  in  a  certain  colloquial  form 
of  expression  which,  while  it  was  vivid  and  pictur 
esque,  was  not  up  to  the  high  standard  of  her  elegant 
father.  "  When  I  came  home  that  evening  from  a 
musicale  at  the  Savoy — you  remember  that  musicale, 
Janet,  where  the  new  tenor,  Gamutino,  sang  so  di 
vinely — I  inquired  the  moment  I  got  into  the  house 
for  my  illustrious  brother.  Going  to  his  room,  I 
found  him  anything  but  an  ideal  of  manly  beauty. 
He  was  plastered  and  bandaged  like  some  old  Pharisee, 
with  a  phylactery  of  vast  proportions  on  his  head,  two 
or  three  smaller  ones  on  his  hands,  and  with  wounds 
and  bruises  all  over  him." 


324  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"  Are  you  not  putting  it  rather  strong,  or  is  it 
that  poetic  gift  of  yours  which  confuses  fact  with 
fancy  ? "  John  suggested,  meantime  smiling  at  the 
picture  whicli  Madge  had  just  sketched  with  that 
nimble  tongue  of  hers. 

"  Truth,  my  dear  brother,  is  always  stranger  than 
fiction.  Nor  could  any  poet  or  romancer  of  this  gen 
eration  do  justice  to  the  crushed,  broken,  helpless 
warrior  who  looked  out  despairingly  from  under  his 
burden  of  bandages  in  response  to  my  agonized  ap 
peal." 

John  offered  no  further  protest,  so  Madge  went  on 
with  her  flamingo-colored  account  of  her  brother's 
condition  as  she  found  him  on  the  night  when  he 
went  to  the  rescue  of  Fred  Sauvier. 

It  will  be  seen  that  Miss  Keen  had  accepted  her 
father's  suggestion,  and  it  will  also  be  seen  that  the 
young  people  were  having  a  very  lively  time.  Even 
HendrikVon  der  Plonk  said  "Gad"  at  least  twice 
during  Madge's  recital,  which  showed  a  high  condi 
tion  of  mental  activity  on  his  part.  Ethel  Brompton 
could  hardly  believe  her  ears  when  she  heard  the 
second  exclamation  from  Hendrik — turning  to  look 
at  him  with  more  interest  than  at  any  time  since  their 
engagement. 

As  for  Hugh  Dunbar,  he  gave  full  proof  that  even 
ing  of  his  membership  in  the  Church  militant,  for 
when  John,  in  sheer  self-defense,  was  forced  to  tell 
the  story  from  the  beginning  Dunbar  rubbed  his 
hands  in  a  way  which  was  not  at  all  saintly.  There 
was  also  a  certain  gleam  in  his  eye,  not  to  speak  of 
a  peculiar  look  on  his  face,  which  gave  the  distinct 


AN    EVENING   AT   MR.    KEEN'S.  325 

impression  that  he  would  have  enjoyed  being  in  the 
fight. 

There  may  be  those  who  can  explain  it — for  there 
are  people  who  have  an  explanation  for  everything 
— still  it  is  singular,  to  say  the  least,  that  when 
Madge  caught  Dunbar  unconsciously  making  fisti 
cuff  gestures  she  actually  liked  him  all  the  better 
for  it ! 

Janet  Brompton  asked  in  a  kindly  way  about  Fred 
Sauvier,  for  John  was  so  modest  as  to  be  barely 
truthful.  But  the  rarity  of  such  a  sin  is  BO  great  as 
to  make  it  self-forgiving. 

Madge  recalled  the  day  when  Ethel,  Janet,  and 
herself  went  to  the  store  of  Linsey  &  "Woolsey,  there 
meeting  Miss  Sauvier,  whereupon  Janet  declared  that 
she  would  go  to  Linsey  &  Woolsey's  the  very  next 
day  to  congratulate  Miss  Sauvier  on  having  euch  an 
heroic  brother. 

It  should  be  said  just  here — though  why  it  should 
be  said  either  here  or  anywhere  else  is  not  quite 
clear — that  from  the  day  Madge  made  the  acquaint 
ance  of  Miss  Sauvier,  every  time  she  was  in  the  store 
of  Linsey  &  Woolsey  she  went  upstairs  to  "  cloaks 
and  wraps  "  and  had  a  little  chat  with  Oberta.  And  it 
should  also  be  said  here — though  for  what  reason 
goodness  only  knows — in  that  little  chat  the  name  of 
Dunbar  was  sure  of  being  mentioned. 

"Your  mother  lives  in  Eastwich,  you  say?"  Miss 
Keen  said  to  Edward  Vaughen,  as  they  sat  some  lit 
tle  distance  from  the  general  group,  talking  in  low 
tones.  "  And  are  you  her  only  son  ? " 

"  Only  son,  and,  for  that  matter,  only  child.     My 


326  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 

mother  and  I  are  very  dear  to  each  other.  I  hope 
sometime  to  have  her  with  me  in  New  York." 

"  Then  you  expect  to  remain  here  permanently  ? " 

"  Yes.  When  I  first  came  I  was  not  quite  certain. 
I  am  now." 

"Of  course  in  the  beginning  you  were  lonely. 
Everything  was  so  new  and  strange  that  you  could 
not  be  expected  to  feel  like  '  settling  down,'  as  we 
call  it.  But  after  a  time  that  feeling  wears  off." 

"  Yes,  that  may  be.  The  cause,  though,  is  not 
what  you  think  it  is.  The  reason — "  Here  Ed 
ward  raised  his  eyes;  at  the  same  moment  Miss  Keen 
raised  her  eyes,  with  the  result  that  their  eyes  met  in 
one  of  those  long,  strange,  mysterious  looks  when 
hearts  reveal  themselves  to  each  other. 

Now  both  of  these  young  people  were  very  foolish. 
We  might  go  so  far  as  to  say  they  were  inexcusably 
foolish.  Miss  Keen  knew  that  her  father  would 
angrily  refuse  any  proposal  which  Edward  Yaughen 
might  make.  She  also  knew  that  he  was  poor ;  that 
he  would  be  poor  for  many  years  to  come,  and 
that  she  would  not  consent  to  share  a  poor  man's 
home. 

Edward  knew  that  as  matters  now  stood  it  was 
the  veriest  folly  for  him  to  even  think  of  Miss  Keen ; 
that  he  would  not  have  a  home  worthy  of  her  for 
years,  if  ever. 

And  yet  they  had  looked  into  each  other's  eyes, 
each  hoping  to  find  the  secret  of  the  other.  But  now 
that  the  secret  had  been  revealed,  each  sat  still  and 
frightened,  not  knowing  just  what  to  do. 

Rhea  was  the  first  to  recover  herself,  so  with  a  few 


AN    EVENING   AT    MR.    KEEN'S.  327 

commonplace  words  she  managed  to  turn  the  conver 
sation  away  from  that  unfinished  sentence  of  Ed 
ward's.  In  a  few  moments  she  joined  the  group  in 
the  other  part  of  the  room.  Before  Edward  had  an 
opportunity  to  supply  the  missing  words — in  case  he 
so  desired — the  company  broke  up  for  the  evening. 


328  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

A  Black  Eye. 

OF  course  it  was  impossible  to  keep  that  affair 
of  John  Disney  and  Fred  Sauvier  out  of  the 
papers.  Police  news  reporters,  when  they 
once  get  hold  of  such  a  sensational  affair,  attend  to 
it  in  their  own  lurid  and  characteristic  way.  So 
there  were  startling  headlines,  heavy  type  summa 
ries,  any  quantity  of  vivid  description,  interspersed 
with  photographs  and  sketches.  The  photographs 
were  taken  out  of  that  marvelous  collection  which 
every  city  newspaper  keeps  on  hand,  answering 
equally  well  for  preachers  and  pugilists,  authors  or 
anarchists,  though  usually  with  no  more  relation  to 
what  they  are  supposed  to  stand  for  than  the  man 
in  the  moon  has  to  Angelo's  "  Moses." 

The  sketches  were  made  by  "  our  own  reporter," 
who  was  probably  not  within  five  miles  of  the  place 
at  the  time  of  the  struggle,  but  who  gathered  up  all 
the  news  from  the  police. 

Then  there  were  biographies  of  the  principal 
characters  going  back  not  only  to  their  childhood, 
but  to  their  ancestors  of  remote  generations. 

The  name  of  "  Sauvier "  was  proven  to  be  dis 
tinctly  French,  easily  traced  to  the  time  of  William 
of  Normandy.  The  courage,  therefore,  which  the 
young  man  showed  was  only  natural  to  one  whose 
ancestors  had  fought  at  the  battle  of  Hastings. 


A   BLACK   EYE.  329 

Of  "  Disney "  it  was  established  beyond  all  per- 
adventure  as  belonging  to  a  branch  of  an  old  Border 
clan,  which  had  made  common  cause  with  Sir  Wil 
liam  Wallace.  This  easily  explained  his  daring  and 
unconquerable  spirit.  Every  item  in  the  history  of 
each  family  was  gathered  up  with  greater  care  than 
Ruth  gleaned  in  the  fields  of  Boaz,  so  that  by  the 
time  the  reporters  had  got  through  with  the  case 
every  uncle,  aunt,  cousin,  and  grandmother  had 
been  thoroughly  exploited. 

For  days,  in  type  an  inch  long  and  correspond 
ingly  broad,  one  might  read  :  "  Murderous  Attack  !  " 
"The  Son  of  a  Distinguished  Physician  Proves 
Himself  a  Hero ! "  "  Damon  and  Pythias  in  New 
York."  As  the  men  under  arrest  were  identified  as 
laborers  and  yard  men  in  the  Tubal-Cain  Iron 
Works,  whose  wrages  were  not  attractively  high, 
some  of  the  papers  worked  off  rampant  editorials  on 
"  Labor  Conditions  in  New  York."  Others  hinted 
at  "  Startling  Revelations  "  to  be  made  at  the  forth 
coming  trial. 

Though  the  work  was  not  in  the  line  of  Mr. 
Faber's  wishes,  yet  it  fell  to  his  lot  to  report  it 
for  the  Trombone.  He  called,  therefore,  on  the 
Sauviers,  getting  from  Fred  a  full  account  of  the 
trouble  from  beginning  to  end.  Mr.  Faber  never 
had  a  case  to  which  he  gave  such  close,  direct,  and 
personal  attention.  If  Fred  Sauvier,  at  the  coming 
trial,  was  going  to  be  the  defendant,  with  Mr.  Faber 
as  his  counsel  in  chief,  Dixon  could  not  have  gone 
with  more  minuteness  into  every  detail  and  circum 
stance.  And  what  was  even  more  singular,  he 


330  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 

seemed  as  fully  satisfied  with  the  information  which 
he  got  from  Oberta  as  that  given  him  by  Fred !  Even 
after  the  papers  had  given  up  special  mention  of  the 
affair — for  there  is  no  such  thing  as  a  nine-days'  won 
der  in  New  York — he  still  continued  his  attentions 
to  the  Sauvier  home.  Fred  enjoyed  Faber's  bright, 
breezy  way,  and  urged  him  to  come  in  as  often  as  he 
could  spare  the  time. 

Just  how  he  happened  to  know  that  Oberta  was  no 
longer  at  home  in  the  early  part  of  the  day — for  after 
the  first  week  she  had  gone  back  to  Linsey  &  Wool- 
soys' — we  cannot  tell.  Anyhow  the  "dropping  in" 
was  always  in  the  evenings.  And  it  was  remark 
able  how  much  of  his  work  brought  him  to  that  part 
of  the  city ! 

When  Fred  Sauvier  was  able  to  go  back  to  his 
place  in  the  office  Faber  had  to  call  to  inquire  if 
there  was  likely  to  be  any  more  trouble  with  the 
men.  Then  he  had  to  call  an  evening  or  two  later 
to  ask  something  about  John  Disney.  Another  time 
he  wanted  special  information  on  some  matter  con 
nected  with  the  iron  interests,  of  which  he  knew 
more  in  his  little  finger  than  Fred  did  in  his  whole 
body. 

After  this  he  had  tickets,  usually  only  two,  to  some 
specially  fine  entertainments.  Fred  couldn't  go, 
Mrs.  Sauvier  had  to  remain  at  home  with  Fred.  The 
burden  of  using  the  tickets  therefore  fell  upon 
Oberta  and  himself.  So  it  went  on,  "  as  it  was  in 
the  beginning,  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be." 

John  Disney,  being  partial  to  athletics  and  having 
played  football  on  the  college  team,  did  not  attach 


A   BLACK  EYE.  331 

much  importance  to  the  cuts  and  scratches  which  he 
received  on  that  eventful  evening.  Still,  for  some 
days  he  remained  at  home  in  a  seclusion  which  no 
one  outside  the  immediate  family  was  permitted  to 
invade. 

For  one  thing  he  had  a  black  eye ;  not  such  a 
black  eye  as  may  be  acquired  by  accident,  but  one 
which  proves  that  the  bearer  thereof  has  been  in  a 
regular  scrimmage. 

And  what  an  obstinate,  obdurate,  obtrusive,  ob 
jectionable  object  a  black  optic  is !  It  has  an  evil 
look.  It  glares  at  you  in  a  way  that  is  diabolical.  It 
cuts  off  all,  relationship  with  the  other  eye.  It  re 
fuses  absolutely  and  positively  to  withdraw  itself 
from  publicity.  A  green  patch  doesn't  help  matters. 
Blue  goggles  only  make  things  worse.  For  the  time  a 
black  eye  is  monarch  of  all  it  surveys.  It  was  surely 
one  which  suggested  "  great  eye  and  little  you." 

Not  far  from  the  black  eye  was  a  swollen  nose. 
"  Not  far  "  is  written  advisedly,  for  while  as  a  gen 
eral  thing  the  eye  and  the  nose  are  seldom  far  apart, 
yet  there  is  a  recognized  distance  arranged  for  by 
nature.  But  in  John's  case  the  nose  insisted  upon 
humping  itself  most  aggressively,  occupying  more 
facial  territory  than  was  ever  written  in  the  bond. 
And  so  the  black  eye  glared  down  at  the  humped 
nose.  The  humped  nose  defiantly  lifted  itself  before 
the  black  eye.  Each,  of  course,  had  its  friends,  so 
John's  face  was  in  general  warfare. 

Now,  one  would  think  when  a  poor  fellow  was  in 
such  plight  as  this  that  at  least  the  members  of  his 
own  household  would  pity  him  profoundly. 
22 


332  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

It  is  true  Madge  would  begin,  "  You  dear,  poor 
boy ! "  but  then  she  would  smile,  the  smile  ending 
off  in  a  laugh,  giggle  and  snicker,  just  half  and  half. 

Then  she  would  apologize,  but  the  apology  usu 
ally  ended  where  the  smile  did. 

"  Some  people  are  very  easily  amused,"  John  took 
occasion  to  say  once  by  way  of  rebuke,  but  catching 
a  glimpse  of  his  face  just  then  in  a  mirror  opposite 
he  laughed  himself,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  his 
upper  lip,  upon  which  a  piece  of  court-plaster  was 
exercising  squatters'  rights. 

Even  Mrs.  Disney,  gentle  and  motherly  as  she  was, 
could  not  forbear  a  smile  when  the  black  eye  would 
try  to  make  an  exception  in  her  favor  and  not  look 
quite  so  malignant. 

Dr.  Disney,  having  had  "  accident  ward  "  practice 
in  his  time,  was  accustomed  to  seeing  young  men 
very  much  in  the  condition  of  John.  He  was  not, 
therefore,  alarmed,  and  poked  some  fun  at  John  now 
and  then. 

One  evening  when  they  were  by  themselves  John 
gave  his  father  all  of  the  particulars  of  the  fight  and 
what  led  up  to  it.  Dr.  Disney  being  a  very  busy 
man,  exceptionally  so  just  then,  had  not  troubled 
himself  with  newspaper  reports,  so  that  all  he  knew 
was  that  John  and  another  clerk  in  the  iron  works 
had  been  attacked  by  some  disappointed  employees. 

John  began  at  the  beginning,  going  on  without 
interruption  until  he  mentioned  the  name  of  Sanvier, 
when  the  doctor  started,  but  instantly  checked  him 
self.  His  face,  though,  became  deathly  pale,  and  had 
that  haunted,  frightened  look  which  at  times  came 


A    BLACK   EYE.  333 

upon  him.  As  the  room  was  comparatively  dark — 
for  John's  eye  became  more  painful  in  the  light — Dr. 
Disney's  agitation  was  not  noticed.  Being  a  man  of 
superb  self-control,  he  soon  mastered  his  feelings,  so 
that  by  the  time  John  had  finished  he  was  able  to 
take  his  part  in  the  conversation. 

"  What  sort  of  a  young  man  is  this  Sauvier  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"A  first-rate  fellow,  though,  of  course,  I  don't  know 
much  about  him  except  what  I  have  seen  in  the  office." 

"  Are  his  people  living  in  the  city  ? " 

John  did  not  dream  of  the  intense  anxiety  with 
which  Dr.  Disney  waited  for  his  reply.  After  all, 
the  name,  though  uncommon,  might  be  only  a  coinci 
dence,  or  at  most  a  remote  connection  of  the  Sauviers 
with  whom  he  was  related. 

"  I  have  heard  him  speak  of  a  mother  and  sister. 
I  take  it  that  the  father  is  dead." 

"  You  say  there  is  a  sister  ? "  the  doctor  went  on, 
putting  his  hand  to  his  face  as  though  to  smooth  it 
down,  a  favorite  gesture  of  his,  but  in  this  case  to 
account  for  a  palpable  uneven  ness  in  his  voice. 

"  Yes,  and  once  or  twice  when  speaking  of  her  he 
mentioned  her  name — Oberta,  if  I  remember  cor 
rectly." 

Dr.  Disney  said  no  more  just  then,  but  sat  with 
his  hand  so  shading  his  face  that  even  had  the  light 
been  good  John  could  not  have  seen  how  troubled 
and  distressed  it  was.  There  was  now  hardly  the 
possibility  of  a  doubt  that  Bertha  Sauvier  was  in 
New  York.  He  had  tried  to  find  out  where  she  had 
gone ;  for  when  Fred  Sauvier  went  to  prison,  and 


334  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

her  home  was  broken  up  in  disgrace,  she  went  away, 
no  one  could  tell  where. 

He  did  not  know  that  on  every  visiting  day  a  sad- 
faced  woman  came  to  the  prison,  waiting  at  the  door 
for  the  moment  to  arrive  when  she  would  be  ad 
mitted.  Neither  did  he  know  that  when  Fred 
Sauvier  died  broken-hearted,  years  before  his  sen 
tence  was  even  half  completed,  she  took  the  poor, 
emaciated  body  and  gave  it  holy  burial.  He  did 
not  know  either  that  the  grave  .in  which  that  body 
slept  was  lovingly  cared  for  by  the  woman  whom 
he  had  so  foully  wronged,  not  even  the  pitiless 
winter  interfering  with  her  pilgrimage  to  that  little 
hillock,  lying  so  pathetically  under  the  snow.  Still 
less  did  he  know  that  when  he  had  gone  to  the  place 
of  burial,  but  a  few  miles  distant  from  his  present 
home,  with  some  of  his  friends  who  had  entered 
the  realm  of  mystery  and  silence,  he  had  seen  the 
poor,  lone  woman,  standing  pitifully  at  this  very 
grave,  sometimes  bending  over  it  as  a  mother  over  a 
sleeping  child. 

"  I  know,"  said  John,  speaking  after  a  long  pause, 
for  he  had  been  waiting  on  his  father  to  resume  the 
conversation,  "  how  your  time  is  taken  up.  Still  I 
wish  you  could  manage  to  call  on  Fred  Sauvier.  He 
has  been  very  kind  to  me  in  the  office,  and  the  poor 
fellow  was  pretty  well  used  up  before  I  got  to  him." 

"  I  hardly  know  just  how  I  can  manage  it,  for  the 
present  at  any  rate,"  the  doctor  replied,  speaking 
as  calmly  as  he  could  ;  but  his  voice,  at  least  to  him 
self,  sounded  strange  and  forced,  almost  as  if  it  came 
from  another  man. 


A   BLACK   EYE.  335 

John  said  no  more,  but  his  silence  only  added  to 
the  pain  and  distress  of  his  father,  for  Dr.  Disney 
knew  that  John  was  disappointed  in  the  refusal  of 
his  very  natural  request.  But  how  could  he  call 
upon  the  Sauviers  ?  How  could  he  meet  the  woman 
whose  life  he  had  ruined  and  whose  terrible  curse 
was  ever  ringing  in  his  ears.  Of  physical  cowardice 
he  knew  nothing  whatever.  He  had  faced  death  in 
almost  every  form.  Without  a  moment's  hesitation 
he  had  gone  into  homes  laden  with  the  most  malig 
nant  disease,  where  every  breath  was  poison,  and  with 
a  courage  which  would  have  made  him  a  hero  on 
the  battlefield  accepted  the  chances  such  as  they 
were. 

He  could  face  death  without  flinching,  fighting 
with  supreme  daring  for  his  patient  amid  the  most 
reeking  and  dangerous  conditions ;  still  lie  dare  not 
meet  Bertha  Sauvier ! 

Yet  of  what  crime  had  he  been  guilty  ?  Where 
was  the  one  who  could  point  to  a  single  law  upon  the 
statute  book  which  he  had  broken?  Who  could 
show  cause  against  him  in  any  one  particular,  or 
produce  the  slightest  shred  of  evidence  upon  which 
he  might  be  condemned  ?  What  if  Mrs.  Sauvier  did 
denounce  him  ?  Would  not  her  charges  be  taken  as 
the  ravings  of  a  demented  woman,  whose  husband, 
while  under  sentence  for  forgery,  had  died  in  prison  ? 

But,  while  Dr.  Disney  could  dispose  of  the  crimi 
nal  code,  he  could  not  dispose  of  conscience.  For 
the  code  he  cared  very  little,  but  for  conscience  he 
cared  a  great  deal,  because  conscience  was  implaca 
ble.  With  all  the  strength  of  his  imperious  will  he 


336  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

had  tried  to  forget  that  sin  of  so  many  years  ago, 
but  it  sternly  refused  to  be  forgotten. 

One  thing,  however,  he  was  determined  on — he 
would  not  see  the  Sauviers.  He  would  temporize 
with  John,  for  appearance'  sake  make  conditional 
promises,  but  he  would  so  arrange  his  work  as  to 
make  the  visit  an  impossibility.  As  a  last  resort  he 
would  even  leave  the  city  for  the  time  being.  Meet 
Mrs.  Sauvier  he  would  not.  Upon  that  he  was  fully 
resolved. 

"  There  is  no  immediate  hurry,"  he  said  to  John, 
as  he  rose  up  and  was  preparing  to  go  out,  "  in  this 
matter  of  calling  upon  these  people.  Perhaps  in  a 
day  or  two  I  may  be  able  to  manage  it." 

"  No  hurry  at  all,"  answered  John,  much  grati 
fied  at  his  father's  response.  "  But  it  would  greatly 
please  me,  and  I  am  sure  it  would  gratify  the 
Sauviers." 

That  night  Dr.  Disney  slept  badly.  Not  even  the 
drug  which  we  have  seen  him  take  once  before  was 
powerful  enough  to  induce  dreamless  unconscious 
ness. 


CONCERNING   MRS.    SMITHERS.  337 


CHAPTER  XXXYI. 

Concerning  Mrs.  Smithers. 

y\    )TRS.  SILAS  SMITHERS  was  by  no  means 

I  y  I  an  extraordinary  woman,  but  there  was  one 
JL  thing  she  could  do,  and  do  it  well — make 
an  attractive,  winsome,  comfortable  home.  The  arm 
chair  in  which  Silas  sat,  when  after  his  day's  work  he 
read  the  evening  paper  and  smoked  his  stubby  brier- 
wood  pipe,  was  an  illustration  of  her  genius  and  skill. 
This  chair  she  had  found  in  a  secondhand  furniture 
store  on  the  avenue,  a  short  distance  from  her  home. 
The  dealer  was  glad  to  sell  it  for  almost  anything  she 
would  give,  for  it  took  up  considerable  room,  and  he 
was  afraid  would  have  to  be  broken  up  for  firewood. 
She  saw  possibilities  in  the  chair,  and  bought  it. 
Silas  had  work  just  then  which  took  him  out  of  town 
for  a  week,  so  she  spent  most  of  that  week  in  fixing 
up  the  chair.  A  few  yards  of  cheap  cretonne  of  an 
agreeable  pattern  were  used  in  making  new  cushions 
for  the  back  and  seat,  as  well  as  re-covering  the  arms. 
Then  with  Jamie's  help  she  put  in  new  casters  and 
about  a  score  of  large-head  brass  nails  to  keep  in 
place  some  braid  which  she  used  for  binding.  When 
Silas  got  home  the  chair  was  wheeled  up  beside  a 
little  table  upon  which  a  lamp  was  burning  and 
where  the  paper  was  ready  for  his  perusal. 

Silas  could  hardly  take  time  that  evening  to  eat 


338  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

his  supper,  lie  was  so  auxious  to  get  into  the  arm 
chair.  How  comfortable  he  looked  as  he  sat  in  it ! 
What  nice  things  he  said  about  his  Mollie ! 

It  wasn't  every  week  that  Mrs.  Smithers  could  in 
dulge  in  such  a  luxury  as  this,  though  all  told  it  did 
not  cost  as  much  as  a  pair  of  Madge  Disney's  street 
gloves.  But  she  picked  up  sundry  odds  and  ends, 
setting  each  off  to  the  best  advantage.  There  were 
two  or  three  little  ornaments  on  the  mantelpiece ; 
one  of  them  was  more  than  an  ornament,  for  it  was 
a  clock  which  kept  excellent  time.  At  Christmas 
she  would  allow  Silas  to  make  her  a  present  of  a 
picture  of  some  kind,  usually  a  chromo,  for  she  was 
partial  to  colors.  Her  own  attempts  at  fancywork 
were  not  either  beautiful  or  fine,  but  they  were 
effective,  which,  after  all,  is  the  main  thing.  She 
therefore  worked  a  mat  for  the  lamp  and  covers  for 
the  two  little  tables  which  stood  in  the  windows.  A 
few  pennies  judiciously  expended  in  Japanese  fans 
supplemented  the  chromos,  so  that  the  room — parlor, 
sitting  room,  and  dining  room,  all  in  one — gave  the 
appearance  of  being  quite  pleasantly  furnished.  So 
long  as  Silas  had  steady  work  Mrs.  Smithers  was  able 
to  keep  her  home  in  good  running  order,  even  adding 
a  trifle  almost  every  month  to  their  account  in  the 
savings  bank  ;  but  when  work  fell  off  one  third,  then 
one  half,  then  down  to  stray  jobs  of  a  day  or  two, 
with  some  weeks  not  even  that,  the  Smithers  house 
hold  felt  the  pinch  very  severely. 

And  then — for  misfortunes  are  never  solitary  things 
which,  like  milestones,  we  pass  one  at  a  time — little 
Jamie  was  forced  to  give  up  carving,  as  he  could  no 


CONCERNING   MRS.   SMITHERS.  339 

longer  do  any  work.  The  fight  that  boy  made  was 
worthy  of  the  Victoria  Cross.  But  there  came  a  time 
when  the  poor,  frail  body  was  not  able  to  sit  even  in 
his  own  chair,  but  was  forced  to  lie  helpless  on  the 
bed. 

And  now  it  was  Mrs.  Smithers's  turn  to  earn  the 
bread  for  the  family.  Silas  could  not  find  work  any 
where.  Their  little  savings  were  entirely  exhausted. 
No  money  whatever  was  coming  in,  and  there  were 
five  of  them  to  be  provided  for.  Mrs.  Smithers  ac 
cordingly  went  to  the  manufacturers  of  certain  arti 
cles  of  apparel,  such  as  cheap,  common  shirts  for 
men  and  the  rougher,  coarser  kind  of  boys'  cloth 
ing,  who  gave  out  work  which  might  be  done  at 
home.  By  working  at  her  sewing  machine  all  day, 
sometimes  well  on  into  the  night,  she  was  able  to 
earn  hardly  more  than  would  pay  the  rent. 

What  could  they  do?  Where  would  they  go? 
The  city  had  nothing  for  them  but  a  poorhouse,  and 
the  poorhouse  is  the  last  refuge  of  honest  poverty, 
for,  after  all,  it  is  not  much  better  than  the  common 
jail. 

In  sheer  despair  Mrs.  Smithers  made  application 
to  a  charity  bureau,  where  she  received  about  the 
same  treatment  as  that  described  by  Mr.  Sterling  to 
Hugh  Dunbar.  The  next  day,  or  possibly  a  few 
days  after,  an  agent  made  his  appearance  in  the 
Smithers  home.  He  saw  a  little  bit  of  carpet  on  the 
floor,  two  or  three  little  pictures  on  the  walls,  the  big 
armchair  which  had  been  rescued  from  the  \voodpile, 
the  sewing  machine  at  which  Mrs.  Smithers  was  able 
to  earn  three  cents  an  hour,  whereupon  he  turned 


340  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

on  his  heel  with  the  remark,  "  People  with  carpets 
on  their  floors  and  pictures  on  their  walls,  and  a 
house  furnished  with  armchairs  and  sewing  machines, 
have  no  business  to  make  application  for  help." 
With  this  he  went  out,  leaving  them  more  hopeless 
than  when  he  came  in.  He  did  not  see  a  boy  almost 
dying  for  lack  of  proper  nourishment  and  medical 
care ;  he  did  not  see  a  woman  who  had  worked  all  day 
without  hardly  a  morsel  of  food  crossing  her  lips;  he 
did  not  see  a  man  who  was  on  the  verge  of  despair 
through  lack  of  work  and  anxiety  for  his  family  ;  he 
did  not  see  a  fire  which  was  dying  in  the  stove, 
with  not  a  handful  of  coal  to  keep  it  living  ;  he  did 
not  see  a  larder  which  was  absolutely  empty,  and  that 
these  people  were  actually  suffering  with  hunger — 
O,  the  number  of  things  which  that  agent  did  not 
see! 

Now,  if  Silas  Smithers,  under  the  stress  of  hunger, 
or  the  still  greater  woe  of  seeing  hunger  in  his  house 
which  he  could  not  relieve,  should  become  a  phre 
netic,  and  in  a  moment  of  wild,  hopeless  passion 
murderously  attack  the  members  of  his  family,  in 
stantly  he  will  be  taken  care  of  by  the  State.  His 
cell  in  the  prison  will  be  crowded  with  eager  visitors; 
charitable  women  will  vie  with  each  other  in  their 
attentions  to  the  distinguished  criminal ;  nothing  will 
be  left  undone  that  would  promote  his  peace  and  well- 
being;  the  commonwealth  will  spend  thousands  of 
dollars  upon  his  trial ;  his  name  will  appear  in  every 
newspaper  in  the  country,  making  him  as  widely 
known  as  if  he  had  been  a  hero  or  benefactor  of 
national  celebrity.  But  as  an  honest  mechanic,  out 


CONCERNING  MRS.    SMITHERS.  341 

of  work  and  hungry,  Silas  Smithers  may  starve  to 
death ! 

Sister  Nora  had  been  absent  from  the  city  for  some 
weeks.  When  she  returned  almost  her  first  inquiry 
was  for  Jamie  Smithers.  Mr.  Sterling  gave  her  to 
understand  that  things  were  not  going  well  with 
Jamie  nor  with  the  Smithers  family.  The  very  next 
day  she  went  to  see  them. 

"  "What !  gone  to  bed  ! "  she  said  to  Jamie,  as  she 
took  the  little  fellow  by  the  hand,  feeling  instantly 
the  fever  which  was  throbbing  in  his  blood.  "  And 
I  have  a  friend  who  must  have  a  whole  lot  of  your 
carvings.  So  anxious  is  he  to  get  his  work  done  first 
that  he  insisted  upon  payment  in  advance."  With 
that  she  took  out  two  five-dollar  bills,  laying  them 
down  on  the  little  table  beside  the  bed. 

The  boy's  eyes  sparkled  with  pleasure,  and  his  poor, 
wasted  face  lit  up  at  her  sweet,  grateful  words.  Then 
she  laid  her  cool,  strong  hand  upon  his  hot  forehead, 
giving  him  a  strange  sense  of  comfort  and  relief. 
And  was  there  ever  anything  quite  so  delicious  as 
that  spoonful  or  two  of  jelly  which  she  made  him 
take,  or  those  few  sips  of  cooling  drink  ?  Already 
Jamie  felt  better — at  least  he  thought  so,  and  his 
face  had  a  more  grateful,  contented  look  than  for 
several  days. 

"  Do  you  think  Mr.  Smithers  could  find  time  to  do 
some  work  in  a  house  over  on  Fifth  Avenue  ? "  she 
asked  Mrs.  Smithers,  not  once  intimating  that  Silas 
was  out  of  employment.  "  I  know  of  a  house  in 
which  a  carpenter  is  sadly  needed,  for  there  are  a  lot 
of  things  to  be  done." 


342  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

The  house  was  her  own,  but  she  did  not  say  so ; 
neither  did  she  intend  that  Silas  Smithers  should 
know.  Her  one  thought  was  to  get  him  something 
to  do,  as  it  was  work,  and  not  charity,  which  he  was  in 
need  of. 

By  this  time  Jamie  was  fast  asleep,  of  which  Sister 
Nora  took  advantage  to  slip  out,  but  not  until  she 
had  given  Mrs.  Smithers  the  address  to  which  Silas 
would  go  in  the  morning,  where  she  would  meet  him 
and  arrange  for  the  work  of  which  she  had  spoken. 

Poor  Silas  came  in  soon  after  utterly  exhausted, 
having  tramped  about  all  day  looking  for  work,  only 
to  meet  with  the  same  discouraging  reply.  But  he 
had  not  even  crossed  the  threshold  before  Mollie  had 
her  arms  about  his  neck  and  with  tears  of  joy  stream 
ing  down  her  face  told  him  of  the  visit  of  Sister 
Nora  and  of  the  work  which  awaited  him  on  the 
morrow. 

Then  Silas  broke  down  and  sobbed  like  a  child. 
For  weeks  he  had  borne  up  as  best  he  could.  No 
man  could  have  made  a  braver  fight.  But  when  he 
saw  his  patient  "  Mollie  "  working  all  day  over  the 
sewing  machine,  not  eating  enough  to  keep  her  alive ; 
when  he  saw  his  poor  wee  Jamie  actually  dying  be 
fore  his  eyes  ;  when  he  knew  that  Effie  and  Bob  were 
hungry  and  that  he  had  no  means  of  buying  bread, 
he  was  tempted  to  give  up  in  despair.  And  so  he 
went  all  to  pieces.  His  big,  rugged  frame  quivered, 
and  he  wept  as  a  man  weeps  but  few  times  in  his 
life. 

What  an  evening  that  was  for  all  of  them  !  Mrs. 
Smithers,  now  that  Silas  was  going  to  work  on  the 


CONCERNING   MRS.    SMITHERS.  343 

morrow,  "  borrowed  "  some  of  Jamie's  carving  money, 
going  out  to  the  store  and  coming  in  with  a  big  bas 
ketful  of  things.  In  a  time  so  short  as  to  be  almost 
magical  something  was  simmering  on  the  kitchen 
stove  which  diffused  a  grateful  odor  all  through  the 
little  apartment.  Effie  was  busy  helping  her  mother 
to  set  the  table  in  a  way  not  very  common  of  late. 
Bob  was  going  in  and  out  on  all  kinds  of  errands,  and 
doing  it,  too,  with  great  cheerfulness.  A  fire  was 
kindled  in  the  "  sitting  "  room  stove.  The  lamp  \vas 
filled  and  set  in  its  old  place.  The  big  armchair  was 
wheeled  over  near  to  the  lamp.  Mrs.  Smithers 
("  Bless  her  dear  heart !  "  Silas  said),  in  the  midst  of 
the  multitude  of  her  cares  that  evening,  had  not  forgot 
ten  her  husband's  one  luxury ;  so  the  old  brierwood 
pipe  came  to  the  fore  again,  for  she  had  bought  him 
a  paper  of  tobacco.  Jamie  was  carried  from  his  bed 
to  the  room  where  they  all  were,  at  first  sitting  with 
his  father  in  the  big  chair ;  then,  when  the  table 
was  cleared  away  and  everything  was  put  to  rights, 
he  crept  into  his  mother's  arms,  where  after  a  little 
while  he  fell  asleep. 

That  same  evening  John  Disney  had  been  at  the 
Mission  to  see  the  opening  of  another  department, 
for  Hugh  Dunbar  was  constantly  adding  some 
thing  or  other.  After  the  more  formal  exercises 
John  went  in  with  Hugh  to  a  little  private  room 
which  Dunbar  called  his  "  snuggery."  John  dropped 
contentedly  into  a  big  easy  chair,  while  Dunbar  took 
another  of  much  the  same  order. 

"  O,  I  am  making  discoveries  all  the  time  ! "  Dun- 
bar  said,  in  reply  to  a  question  of  John.  "  One  of 


344  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

my  latest  is  that  the  deepest  poverty  is  not  the  result 
of  strong  drink." 

"  That  would  have  surprised  me  a  year  ago,"  an 
swered  John,  "  but  it  does  not  surprise  me  now." 

"  I  used  to  accept  as  gospel  the  things  that  men 
said  about  pauperism  and  drink,"  Dunbar  went  on ; 
"  but  I  know  better  now." 

"  Suppose  you  let  in  a  little  of  your  superfluous 
light  on  me.  In  a  chair  so  comfortable  as  this  one 
could  almost  endure  a  sermon." 

"  Then  here  goes.  In  my  opinion,  the  crime  of  our 
city — that  is,  the  common,  coarse,  brutal  crime — is 
largely  traceable  to  strong  drink ;  and  so,  also,  is 
much  of  the  poverty ;  but  it  is  a  low,  vulgar  kind  of 
poverty,  which  may  be  relieved  by  charity.  Now,  the 
real,  deep  poverty  has  causes  of  an  altogether  differ 
ent  nature." 

"  So  far  the  sermon  is  fairly  interesting,  but  with 
more  assertion  than  argument." 

"  Then  let  me  bring  forward  the  proofs.  You  have 
heard  me  speak  of  Silas  Smithers  ?  " 

John  nodded. 

"  Well,  Smithers  is  a  carpenter — a  house  carpen 
ter,  one  of  the  most  steady,  industrious  men  in  New 
York.  Now,  Smithers  is  out  of  work ;  but  what  is 
far  worse,  he  can't  get  work ;  and  there  are  thousands 
of  men  like  him  with  nothing  to  do  and  with  no 
prospect  of  anything  to  do." 

"  You  mean  to  tell  me  that  there  are  thousands  of 
house  carpenters  in  this  city  out  of  work  ? "  John 
questioned,  with  an  incredulous  air. 

"  It  is  very  evident  that  you  are  yet  '  in  the  gall  of 


CONCERNING   MRS.    SMITHERS.  345 

bitterness  and  in  the  bond  of  iniquity '  so  far  as  the  in 
dustrial  problem  is  concerned.  Do  you  not  know  that 
one  trade  is  so  related  to  another  that  no  one  can  suf 
fer  without  the  others  feeling  it  almost  if  not  quite  as 
much  ? " 

"  No,  I  do  not  know  it ;  and  what  is  more,  I  doubt 
if  you  do  either." 

"  Then  listen,  you  incorrigible  doubter.  Because 
the  stone  masons  are  not  at  work,  the  bricklayers  are 
idle  ;  because  the  bricklayers  are  idle,  the  carpenters 
have  nothing  to  do;  because  the  carpenters  have 
nothing  to  do,  the  plasterers,  slaters,  painters,  plumb 
ers,  paperhangers  are  all  unemployed.  Hence  the 
furniture  men  close  their  factories,  the  carpet  men 
shut  down  their  mills,  and  the  result  is  widespread 
poverty." 

"  The  sermon  is  interesting,  but  rather  lengthy," 
John  remarked. 

"  The  end  is  coming  ;  have  patience.  Now,  when 
the  question  of  poverty  has  come  up  I  used  to  con 
tent  myself  by  saying,  '  The  poor  are  themselves  to 
blame ;  they  waste  their  wages  in  drink  ;  they  are  un 
thrifty  ;  they  are  careless  and  extravagant.'  But  I 
know  better  now.  The  question  that  troubles  me  is 
not  concerning  the  poor,  miserable  wretch  who  wastes 
his  money  in  a  pothouse,  but  the  problem  of  this  great 
army  of  honest,  sober  men  of  whom  Silas  Smithers 
is  a  fair  type." 

"  The  sermon  nears  the  end.  Now  put  in  the  ap 
plication." 

John  was  far  more  serious  than  he  pretended  to  be. 
Dunbar,  however,  knew  this. 


.346  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

"  The  application  is  this :  These  silly  dreamers 
and  '  press-the-button '  philosophers,  who  think  they 
can  change  things  by  petty  legislation  and  cheap  re 
forms,  are  so  far  gone  in  their  delusions  that  there  is 
no  hope  for  them.  As  for  the  working  people,  with 
their  strikes  and  brotherhoods,  they  are  as  helpless  as 
Canute  at  the  incoming  of  the  sea.  The  only  cure  is 
the  development  of  a  principle  which  has  been  in  the 
world  for  nearly  two  thousand  years.  That  principle 
is  simply  the  Christianization  of  business.  Any  man, 
therefore,  who  will  really  solve  the  problem  of  the 
age  must  Christianize  his  business.  He  must  apply 
the  Golden  Rule  in  his  workshop  and  counting  house. 
In  time  this  spirit  will  prevail  with  the  workmen, 
and  the  question  will  be  settled  for  all  time  to  come. 
But  the  sermon  is  ended.  It  is  time  you  were  going 
home." 

It  was  late  that  night,  very  late,  when  John  got 
home,  but  Madge  was  waiting  up  for  him.  Know 
ing  that  he  had  been  at  the  Mission,  she  was  anxious 
to  hear  how  everything  passed  off.  She  was  now 
quite  interested  in  the  Mission,  though  not,  it  must 
be  admitted,  to  the  same  extent  that  she  was  in  Hugh 
Dunbar. 

After  John  had  lighted  his  pipe  (lie  always  smoked 
the  last  thing  at  night — a  most  reprehensible  and  un 
healthy  thing  to  do)  he  reached  over  to  the  chair 
where  Madge  was  sitting  and,  laying  his  hand  lov 
ingly  upon  hers,  said : 

"  Madge,  Hugh  Dunbar  is  a  noble  fellow.  Unless 
yon  mean  '  playing  for  keeps,'  to  use  an  expression  of 
our  childhood,  you  ought  to  give  him  a  hint.  I  am 


CONCERNING   MRS.    SMITHERS.  347 

very  fond  of  him  and  would  feel  badly  if  he  got 
hurt." 

"  It  is  all  right,  John,"  Madge  answered,  in  a  low 
tone.  "  This  time  it  is  '  playing  for  keeps,'  and  not 
much  playing  either." 

Whereupon  John  kissed  her,  and  they  parted  for 

the  night. 
23 


348  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Ethel  Brompton's  Wedding. 

OF  course  Ethel  Brompton  got  married,  and  of 
course  there  was  a  wedding  of  becoming  pomp 
and  circumstance. 

For  weeks  preceding  the  august  event  the  usual 
preparations  had  been  going  on,  involving  any  num 
ber  of  visits  to  dressmakers  and  milliners  and  drygoods 
stores,  for  it  was  of  the  utmost  importance  that  Ethel 
be  not  only  handsomely  gowned  on  the  day  when  she 
became  Mrs.  Yon  der  Plonk,  but  that  she  enter  upon 
her  new  life  with  such  an  array  of  gowns  as  would 
entitle  her  to  distinguished  consideration. 

These  were  busy  daj's  in  the  P>rompton  mansion. 
The  house  was  in  a  regular  bustle.  Every  few  min 
utes  a  wagon  of  some  kind  stopped  at  the  door  with 
a  bundle  or  a  package.  Messenger  boys  brought 
cardboard  boxes  of  all  shapes  and  dimensions.  Ethel's 
rooms,  though  carefully  arranged  every  morning, 
were  all  littered  up  before  night.  Janet  was  having 
about  the  same  experience.  So  was  Mrs.  Brompton. 
Even  Mr.  Brompton  had  to  surrender  the  library  for 
the  time  being. 

Later  on  the  wedding  presents  began  to  come  in, 
which  only  added  to  the  confusion  and  excitement. 
On  the  principle  which  is  never  more  fully  illus 
trated  than  at  weddings — "  to  him  that  hath  shall  be 
given  " — the  presents  were  both  numerous  and  costly. 


ETHEL   BROMPTON'S  WEDDING.  349 

— any  quantity  of  fine  cut  glass,  delicate  china,  ex 
quisite  bronze,  bric-a-brac  of  every  imaginable  de 
scription,  dainty  little  water  colors,  paintings  in  oil, 
fans,  clocks,  silver  by  the  bushel,  dinner  services, 
crates  of  Koyal  Worcester,  of  Limoges,  of  Dresden, 
of  Beleek,  rare  old  lace,  shawls  from  Cashmere,  rugs 
from  Persia,  furs  from  Eussia,  everything,  in  fact, 
that  money  could  buy,  with  everything  repeated  over 
and  over  again. 

Meanwhile  Mr.  Coke,  of  the  eminent  legal  firm 
Coke  &  Littleton,  and  Mr.  Blackstone,  of  the  equally 
eminent  firm  Erskine  &  Blackstone,  the  one  repre 
senting  Mark  Brornpton,  the  other  representing 
Hendrik  Von  der  Plonk,  had  charge  of  the  marriage 
settlements.  What  a  singular  thing  it  is  that  when  a 
rich  man's  daughter  is  going  to  be  married  to  a  rich 
man's  son  a  lawyer  has  to  stand  guard  over  the  settle 
ments  lest  the  one  in  some  way  obtains  an  advantage 
over  the  other ! 

But  the  one  person  of  all  others  who  enjoyed  these 
days  was  Mrs.  Brompton.  Never  was  she  quite  so 
stately  as  now,  nor  more  thoroughly  appreciated  the 
honors  of  her  situation.  This  marriage  of  Ethel  with 
young  Yon  der  Plonk  was  the  realization  of  her  most 
fondly  cherished  hopes.  Unlike  Hugh  Dunbar,  she 
did  not  possess  a  grandfather,  either  living  or  dead. 
Neither  did  her  husband.  He  did  not  even  possess  a 
father,  for  it  was  known  everywhere  that  Mark 
Brompton  came  to  New  York  as  a  poor  boy,  from 
which  lowly  condition  he  had  worked  himself  up. 
Time  and  again  she  had  gone  over  her  family  tree, 
hoping  to  find  something  of  Norman  blood,  but  try 


350  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

as  she  would  she  could  reach  nothing  more  noble  than 
tailors  or  weavers  or  shoemakers.  Finally  when  she 
ran  out  her  branch  on  the  tree  to  Jed  Snipkins,  who 
married  Nancy  Ann  Bilks,  she  gave  up  her  gene 
alogical  studies. 

But  now,  through  Ethel's  marriage,  she  will  have 
kinship  with  people  who  have  any  number  of  grand 
fathers,  for  the  Von  der  Plonks  were  here  long  be 
fore  Columbus !  If  that  worthy  had  only  known 
enough  to  sail  his  caravels  into  New  York  harbor  the 
Yon  der  Plonks  would  have  met  him  at  the  wharf 
and  extended  the  hospitalities  of  the  city. 

In  the  various  shopping  expeditions  which  Ethel 
was  required  to  make  Mrs.  Brompton  nearly  always 
accompanied  her;  giving  her  judgment  on  carpets, 
furniture,  hangings,  on  all  of  the  requisites  for  the  new 
home,  with  the  superb  dignity  of  a  duchess  whose 
pedigree  was  four  yards  long. 

But  while  she  was  so  delightfully  absorbed  she 
did  not  forget  the  possibilities  of  a  letter  from  South 
America.  By  this  time  David  Stanley  would  probably 
have  heard  of  what  was  going  on.  The  young  man  had 
friends  in  New  York  who  could  not  keep  back  an 
event  of  such  importance.  If  he  wrote  to  Ethel,  his 
letter,  containing  reproaches  and  regrets,  as  it  surely 
would,  could  do  nothing  but  harm. 

She  therefore  left  word  with  the  footman  to  have 
all  foreign  letters  put  aside  and  given  to  her  privately. 
Right  glad  was  she  of  this  arrangement,  for  one 
afternoon  the  dreaded  letter  came.  For  a  few  mo 
ments  she  held  it  in  her  hand,  not  knowing  just  what 
to  do  with  it.  Mrs.  Brompton  knew  that  under  the 


ETHEL   BROMPTON'S  WEDDING.  351 

law  that  letter  should  have  been  given  to  Ethel. 
Ethel  had  a  right  to  it,  for  she  was  its  lawful  owner. 
But  Mrs.  Brompton  reasoned  that  she  was  Ethel's 
mother;  that  this  letter  was  dangerous,  and  if  given 
up  might  seriously  affect  Ethel's  future.  Mrs.  Bromp 
ton  was  too  honorable  to  read  it,  but  not  too  honorable 
to  steal  it.  She  was  too  high-minded  to  open  it,  but 
her  high-mindedness  did  not  prevent  her  from  bribing 
the  footman  to  purloin  it. 

And  so  she  stood  there  undecided.  What  a  pity 
that  Mrs.  Brompton  had  never  learned  that  honesty 
is  the  best  policy  !  The  giving  of  that  letter  to  Ethel 
would  most  assuredly  have  broken  off  her  approaching 
marriage  to  Yon  der  Plonk,  but  Mrs.  Brompton  herself 
would  have  been  the  first  to  counsel  this  very  thing. 

And  Mrs.  Brompton  would  have  held  her  head 
higher  than  ever,  glorying  even  in  the  broken  en 
gagement,  for  this  is  what  the  letter  contained  : 

"  MY  DEAK  ETHEL  :  The  most  extraordinary  thing 
has  happened.  Through  a  succession  of  deaths,  two 
of  them  accidental,  and  all  of  them  entirely  unex 
pected,  the  estates  and  duchy  of  Paddington  now  fall 
to  me.  Last  Saturday  I  heard  from  the  lawyers  who 
have  the  estates  in  charge,  and  with  whom  I  have 
been  in  cable  communication  almost  every  hour  since. 
There  is  now  not  a  doubt  as  to  the  fact  that  I  am  the 
next  of  kin.  I  would  have  telegraphed  you,  but  I 
did  not  wish  to  say  anything  until  I  was  certain.  Be 
sides,  telegrams  are  not  only  unsatisfactory  things, 
but  they  soon  become  public  property.  This  I  was 
anxious  to  avoid,  preferring  the  matter  to  remain 
quiet  for  the  present — our  secret,  yours  and  mine. 


352  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"  I  start  to-day  for  England,  sailing  direct  from 
here.  If  you  write  within  a  day  or  two  after  receiv 
ing  this  it  will  reach  me  as  soon  as  I  land.  Direct  to 
me  at  Bank  of  England. 

"  Now,  my  darling,  I  can  offer  you  a  home  and  a 
name  which  are  worthy  of  you.  Our  weary  waiting 
will  soon  end.  Forgive  me  for  not  writing  at  greater 
length,  but  you  can  easily  imagine  how  anxious  and 
excited  I  am.  (Another  cable  despatch  delivered 
just  this  moment ;  it  is  addressed  to  the  Duke  of 
Paddington !)  Think  of  my  Ethel  as  a  duchess !  Ah  ! 
she  is  more  than  a  duchess  to  me.  She  is  my  queen ! 
God  bless  you  and  keep  you  till  I  come  for  you. 
Ever  your  DAVID." 

Mrs.  Brompton  stood  with  the  unopened  letter  in 
her  hand.  She  turned  it  over,  looking  one  time 
at  the  address,  which  seemed  to  be  very  plain  and 
large,  then  at  the  postmarks,  some  of  which  were  not 
distinct.  She  weighted  it  on  her  fingers,  all  the  time 
wondering  just  what  was  best  to  do.  Once  she 
wished  the  footman  had  not  given  it  to  her,  or  that 
Ethel  had  seen  it  somehow.  Then  she  lit  a  match, 
held  the  letter  to  the  flame,  and  when  it  had  burned 
more  than  half  way  down,  she  carried  it  to  the  grate, 
for  she  had  been  in  her  own  sitting-room  all  this  time, 
where  she  watched  it  char  through  in  every  part. 
Then  she  carefully  washed  her  hands,  and  after  a 
time  began  to  dress  for  dinner.  The  embers  crisped 
and  crackled  in  the  grate,  as  burnt  letters  always  do, 
and  with  each  crackle  Mrs.  Brompton's  conscience 
troubled  her.  She  now  began  to  wish  that  she  had  not 
been  so  precipitate.  Certainly  she  should  not  have 


ETHEL   BROMPTON'S  WEDDING.  353 

burned  it.  So  she  went  over  to  the  grate  with  the 
hope  that  a  part  of  the  letter  might  have  escaped.  But 
nothing  remained  only  the  black,  flaky  embers  which 
crumbled  at  her  touch. 

It  was  a  very  brilliant  wedding.  The  church  was 
filled  long  before  the  time  appointed  for  the  cere 
mony.  Though  there  was  something  of  a  restraint 
upon  conversation,  because  of  a  recognized  church 
propriety,  still  there  was  a  fair  amount  of  decorous 
whispering. 

"  I  don't  see  what  Hendrik  Yon  der  Plonk  could 
find  in  Ethel  Brompton,"  Miss  McSwoodle  said  to 
Miss  Bronx.  "  She  always  seemed  to  me  a  snippy, 
conceited  thing,  with  airs  enough,  goodness  knows." 

Miss  McSwoodle  and  Miss  Bronx,  having  been 
school-girl  friends  of  Ethel,  were  seated  well  up  front 
among  the  special  guests. 

"  I  have  often  wondered  at  that  very  same  thing," 
Miss  Bronx  sweetly  replied.  "  But  then  you  know 
love  is  blind." 

"  All  the  love  that  is  in  this  affair  would  be  lost 
in  my  thimble,"  Miss  McSwoodle  responded,  in  a 
very  delicate  whisper.  This  led  Miss  Bronx  to 
smile  a  dim,  religious  smile,  for  she  remembered  that 
she  was  in  a  church  where  smiles  only  of  Gothic 
architecture  are  permissible. 

Then  they  both  gazed  seraphically  at  a  stained- 
glass  window  through  which  the  noon  sun  was  shining, 
making  very  vivid  the  inscription,  "My  little  chil 
dren,  let  us  not  love  in  word,  neither  in  tongue ;  but 
in  deed  and  in  truth." 

"  I  hear  that  the  settlements  are  very  generous," 


354  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

said  Mrs.  Gramercy,  turning  around  in  such  a  way 
that  she  was  able  to  speak  to  her  friend,  Mrs.  Stuy- 
vesant,  who  sat  in  the  pew  immediately  behind. 

"  More  than  generous,"  responded  Mrs.  Stuy  vesant. 
"  Von  der  Plonk  has  been  liberal  to  a  fault." 

Neither  of  them  knew  the  first  thing  about  the 
settlements.  Outside  the  lawyers  and  the  principals 
concerned,  not  a  soul  in  New  York  had  the  faintest 
inkling  of  how  the  marriage  papers  read.  This,  how 
ever,  did  not  prevent  Mrs.  Gramercy  and  Mrs. 
Stuyvesant  from  having  a  whispered  discussion  on 
the  subject,  even  going  into  sundry  details. 

"  I  suppose  Mrs.  Brompton  will  be  more  uppish 
than  ever,  now  that  her  family  is  related  to  the  Yon 
der  Plonks,"  said  Mrs.  Bayridge  to  Mrs.  Stapleion, 
both  out-of-towners,  and  both  very  intimate  friends 
of  Mrs.  Brompton. 

"  She  may  feel  a  little  more  uppish,  but  just  how 
she  can  act  more  uppish  I  cannot  imagine,"  was  the 
sweet  response  of  Mrs.  Stapleton,  spoken,  too,  with 
such  softness  and  tenderness  that  one  would  think 
she  was  repeating  the  Litany. 

And  so  it  went  on  all  over  the  church — whisper 
ings  in  the  gallery,  whisperings  under  the  gallery, 
whisperings  in  the  front  pews,  whisperings  in  the  back 
pews,  whisperings  everywhere. 

And  still  the  people  came  flocking  in,  so  that  the 
ushers  had  much  trouble  to  find  places  for  them. 
Many  a  stout  dowager  who  had  settled  down  com 
fortably  was  forced  to  move  along  in  the  pew  to 
make  room  for  some  other  stout  dowager.  Many  a 
brave  gown  got  badly  crumpled.  Many  a  dainty 


ETHEL   BROMPTON'S  WEDDING.  355 

costume  had  small  chance  to  display  itself.  It  is  to 
be  feared  that,  church  though  it  was,  angry  frowns 
were  exchanged  more  than  once  among  these  wed 
ding  guests. 

For  some  little  time  the  organ  had  been  giving  the 
order  of  music  customary  on  these  occasions — part 
opera,  part  oratorio,  part  organist — when  all  at  once 
the  strains  of  the  familiar  march  were  heard.  Every 
one  then  knew  that  the  bridal  party  had  arrived. 

At  this  moment  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bland,  in  full  ca 
nonicals,  appeared  in  his  place,  while  from  a  door 
near  the  chancel  Hendrik  Yon  der  Plonk  came  for 
ward,  attended  by  Percy  Brompton. 

And  now  comes  Ethel  Brompton,  leaning  on  the 
arm  of  her  father,  with  her  sister  Janet  and  Miss  Yon 
der  Plonk  as  bridesmaids. 

Ethel  was  pale,  but  cool  and  collected,  responding 
in  clear,  distinct  tones,  while  in  kneeling  to  receive 
the  nuptial  benediction  she  was  sufficiently  conscious 
to  droop  gracefully,  something  which  cannot  be  said  of 
Hendrik,  for  he  bumped  down,  evidently  not  having 
calculated  the  distance  from  his  knees  to  the  cushions. 

There  was  no  need  whatever  for  Hendrik  to  look 
so  flushed  and  hot  as  he  went  down  the  aisle  with 
Ethel  on  his  arm,  or  to  nearly  trip  once  or  twice  be 
fore  he  reached  the  church  door,  or  to  give  almost  a 
gasp  of  relief  when  he  got  fairly  into  the  carriage. 

Ethel  walked  down  that  aisle  with  calm  graceful 
ness.  Her  face  was  neither  hot  nor  flushed.  When 
Hendrik  handed  her  into  the  carriage  she  took  time 
to  so  adjust  her  gown  that  it  would  not  be  crushed 
or  wrinkled. 


356  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

And  so  they  were  married. 

With  the  breakfast  provided  by  the  famous  caterer 
Chaufrappi,  to  which  he  gave  personal  attention — a 
rare  thing  for  him  to  do ;  with  the  toasts  and  re 
sponses  ;  the  departure  of  Hendrik  and  Ethel ;  the 
trip  to  Europe  and  the  return,  we  have  nothing  now 
to  say.  It  ought,  though,  to  be  mentioned  that  the 
notice  of  the  marriage  was  cabled  across  the  Atlantic 
for  the  benefit  of  the  American  colony  in  London, 
and  the  still  larger  colony  in  Paris,  which  notice  ap 
peared  in  the  Times  of  both  cities. 

On  the  day  after  the  wedding  David  Stanley,  now 
Duke  of  Paddington,  reached  London,  going  imme 
diately  to  the  Bank  of  England  with  the  hope  of  re 
ceiving  letters  from  Ethel.  His  steamer  had  been 
longer  making  the  run  than  he  had  planned  for,  so 
Ethel  could  easily  reply  to  his  hurried  note,  perhaps 
add  others  on  her  own  account.  He  was  greatly  dis 
appointed  at  not  hearing  from  her.  He  was  also 
lonely  and  homesick,  for,  though  he  had  come  to  en 
ter  upon  the  inheritance  of  his  fathers,  he  was  in  a 
land  of  strangers. 

He  had  telegraphed  his  lawyers,  Court  <fc  Deeds, 
from  Liverpool,  making  an  appointment  for  the  fol 
lowing  day.  So  he  went  back  to  the  hotel,  wonder 
ing  how  he  would  get  through  a  long,  dull,  lonely 
evening.  After  dinner  in  the  coffee  room  he  picked 
up  the  Times  with  the  hope  of  finding  some  Ameri 
can  news.  By  the  merest  chance  he  turned  to  the 
marriage  column,  and  he  smiled  pleasantly  when  he 
thought  that  in  a  few  months  his  name  would  be 
in  that  list.  He  therefore  read  on,  going  over  one  and 


ETHEL   BROMP  TON'S  WEDDING.  357 

then  another,  but  as  he  came  to  the  end  he  saw  some 
thing  which  struck  him  as  with  a  deathly  chill ;  the 
paper  trembled  in  his  hand ;  his  eyes  strained  pain 
fully  in  their  sockets,  and  for  the  moment  were  cov 
ered  with  a  hot  mist.  But,  instantly  assuring  himself 
that  there  must  be  a  mistake,  he  compelled  his  eyes 
to  steady  themselves  upon  the  page,  when  lie  read  : 

"  YON  DER  PLONK — BROMPTON.  On  Wednesday, 
May  1,  at  the  Church  of  St.  Ezekiel's,  New  York, 
U.  S.,  by  the  Eev.  Horatio  M.  Bland,  D.D.,  Ethel, 
daughter  of  Mr.  Mark  Brompton,  to  Hendrik  Yon 
der  Plonk,  son  of  the  late  Hendrik  Yon  der  Plonk." 

Poor  David  Stanley !  And  he  had  called  her  his 
queen !  He  had  filled  his  heart  all  the  way  across 
the  sea  with  pictures  of  her  as  Duchess  of  Padding- 
ton  !  This,  then,  was  the  end  of  his  dreams. 

"  You  remember  that  David  Stanley  who  used  to 
come  here  quite  frequently  ?  "  said  Mark  Brompton 
to  Mrs.  Brompton  and  Janet  one  evening  about  a 
week  after  the  wedding,  as  they  were  sitting  in  the 
library. 

"  Yes,"  was  the  eager  reply  of  both  women — 
one  reply  prompted  by  a  vivid  remembrance  of  a 
letter  which  had  been  stolen  and  burned,  the  other  by 
an  equally  vivid  remembrance  of  Ethel's  tears  and 
despair,  but  final  surrender  to  pride  and  ambition. 

"  Well,  you  know  he  was  in  South  America  acting 
as  the  agent  of  a  New  York  house.  I  have  a  corre 
spondent  in  the  city  where  Stanley  was,  from  whom 
I  heard  this  morning.  He  writes  me  that  Stanley, 
in  the  most  unexpected  way,  has  come  into  possession 


358  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

of  a  large  estate  in  England,  and  the  fellow  is  ac 
tually  a  duke." 

"  A  duke  !  "  and  again  the  two  women  answered 
in  the  same  breath,  looking  at  Mr.  Brompton  with 
an  interest  for  which  he  could  not  account. 

"  Yes,  a  duke !  The  Duke  of  Paddington  is  now 
his  title,  one  of  the  most  honorable  in  the  English 
peerage."  With  this  Mr.  Brompton  resumed  the 
reading  of  his  paper. 

Neither  Mrs.  Brompton  nor  Janet  made  any  reply, 
but  they  were  both  doing  some  unpleasant  thinking. 

"She might  have  been  a  duchess!"  thought  Janet, 
going  back  rapidly  to  some  of  the  times  when  Ethel 
was  almost  on  the  point  of  breaking  with  Von  der 
Plonk  and  taking  her  chances  with  David  Stanley. 

"  She  might  have  been  a  duchess  ! "  thought  Mrs. 
Brompton,  as  she  recalled  the  letter  which  she  had 
kept  back  from  Ethel,  for  in  that  letter  David  Stan 
ley  had  undoubtedly  written  of  his  good  fortune. 

In  a  few  minutes  Mrs.  Brompton  and  Janet  retired, 
each  going  to  her  own  room  to  think  over  what  Mr. 
Brompton  had  told  them. 

No  sooner  was  Janet  alone  than  she  burst  into 
tears,  and  with  the  cry,  "  My  poor  Ethel ! "  she  threw 
herself  upon  the  bed,  sobbing  as  if  her  heart  would 
break. 

No  sooner  was  Mrs.  Brompton  alone  than  she 
locked  her  fingers  together  and  walked  to  and  fro  in 
her  room  like  one  demented.  Her  face  became  livid 
with  passion.  Her  eyes  fairly  blazed  in  anger.  -She 
bit  her  lips  until  they  were  stained  with  blood.  She 
cursed  herself  when  she  remembered  that  it  was  her 


ETHEL   BROMPTON'S  WEDDING.  359 

doing  that  Ethel  was  not  a  duchess.  The  bitterness, 
the  shame,  the  agony  of  that  hour !  It  was  simply 
maddening,  and  she  had  only  herself  to  blame. 
With  lightning-like  rapidity  but  awful  vividness  the 
events  connected  with  David  Stanley  and  his  love  for 
Ethel  passed  before  her.  She  saw  with  what  re- 
morselessness  she  had  kept  them  apart.  How  im 
placable  she  had  been  !  And  now  he  was  Duke  of 
Paddington,  and  Ethel  might  have  been  a  duchess ! 
It  was  infuriating.  It  was  more  than  flesh  and  blood 
could  stand.  So  she  stormed  and  raved,  clenching 
her  hands  until  her  nails  made  deep,  livid  marks  in 
the  burning  palm. 

And  is  this  the  stately  Mrs.  Brompton,  the  woman 
of  superb  self-control,  whose  ease  and  dignity  we 
have  so  often  admired  ? 

To  gratify  her  ambition  Mrs.  Brompton  had  stooped 
to  dishonor.  That  dishonor  had  gained  a  Yon  der 
Plonk,  but  lost  a  dukedom. 

There  was  no  sleep  for  Mrs.  Brompton  that  night. 
"  She  might  have  been  a  duchess  !  "  in  letters  of  lire 
was  written  on  her  soul. 


360  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


CHAPTEK  XXXVIII. 
Dr.  Bland  of  St.  Ezekiel's. 

IT  was  not  to  be  expected  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bland 
would  permit  Madge  and  John  Disney  "to  ab 
sent  themselves  from  their  accustomed  place  in 
the  sanctuary  "  (using  here  his  own  words)  without 
at  least  ascertaining  the  reason. 

The  Disney  pew  was  a  prominent  one,  and,  though 
Dr.  Disney  was  not  often  present,  Mrs.  Disney  and 
Madge — John  also  when  he  was  not  away  from 
home — had  been  quite  regular  in  their  attendance. 

But  for  some  time  past  Mrs.  Disney  was  the  only 
member  of  the  family  upon  whom  any  dependence 
could  be  placed.  That  pew,  therefore,  now  compar 
atively  empty,  gave  the  worthy  clergyman  much 
concern. 

There  are  those  who  might  be  disposed  to  think 
that  if  the  Disney  pew  had  been  in  a  less  conspicu 
ous  place,  or  the  Disney  family  been  of  less  prom 
inence,  the  pastor  would  not  have  been  so  quick  to 
notice  their  absence  nor  so  prompt  in  his  efforts  to 
secure  their  return.  But  any  such  suggestion  is  un 
just  to  Dr.  Bland.  A  more  conscientious  man  could 
not  be  found  anywhere,  nor  one  who  labored  more 
earnestly  for  the  people  over  whom  he  was  placed. 
That  he  was  exclusive,  perhaps  narrow,  all  who  knew 
him  would  concede.  Some  went  so  far  as  to  call  him 
bigoted.  This,  though,  was  hardly  just.  His  father 


DR.    BLAND   OF   ST.    EZEKIEL'S.  361 

was  a  man  of  high  scholarly  attainments,  a  professor 
in  a  leading  university.  Nor  was  he  altogether  de 
pendent  upon  his  income  from  the  university,  having 
a  fair  property  in  his  own  right.  Thus  he  was  able 
to  gratify  many  of  his  tastes,  which  were  mainly  in 
the  line  of  the  fine  arts.  He  bought  some  nice 
pictures  at  times.  He  had  a  few  rare  bits  of 
statuary.  He  was  fond  of  books  with  dainty  bind 
ings.  His  home  had  choice  bric-a-brac  which  he  had 
picked  up  when  abroad.  Then  he  had  married  into 
one  of  the  oldest  and  most  aristocratic  families  in 
Boston,  his  wife  having  no  difficulty  in  tracing  her 
pedigree  to  William  Bradford,  one  of  the  May 
flower  passengers,  afterward  the  first  governor  of  the 
Plymouth  Colony.  Brought  up  in  such  a  home  as 
this,  the  only  child  too,  what  could  Horatio  know 
of  the  rough,  brawling  world?  Of  that  life  in  which 
men  fight  for  mastery ;  in  which  hunger  and  pride 
and  ambition,  like  chisels  of  steel,  cut  their  terrible 
marks  upon  human  souls ;  in  which  avarice  and  de 
sire,  as  vultures,  swoop  down  upon  the  helpless  and 
the  dying ;  in  which  thousands  trample  upon  each 
other  in  their  mad  strife  for  bread — of  such  a  life  Dr. 
Bland  knew  nothing  whatever. 

Of  the  world  in  which  common  people  live,  the 
world  of  injustice,  of  tyranny,  of  fraud,  of  heartless, 
selfish  cruelty,  he  did  not  even  dream.  It  was  not 
priestly  sanctity  which  allowed  him  to  pass  unheed 
ing  the  poor  fellow  who  lay  crushed  and  bleeding  on 
the  Jericho  road,  but  rather  the  rapt,  ecstatic  charac 
ter  of  his  faith.  Utterly  unworldly,  gentle-hearted, 
pure-minded,  his  was  more  the  life  of  a  mediaeval 


362  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

saint  than  of  a  man  of  this  generation.  He  was 
far  more  familiar  with  the  life  of  Corinth  or 
Antioch  or  Ephesus  than  with  the  city  in  which 
he  lived. 

To  his  thought  the  Church  was  a  magnificent  ideal 
of  spiritual  desire ;  a  sublime  memorial  of  religious 
aspiration ;  a  venerable  institution  hallowed  by  the 
centuries  out  of  which  it  had  come.  Never  once  had 
it  occurred  to  him  that  the  Church,  like  leaven  enter 
ing  the  meal,  like  salt  arresting  the  process  of  decay, 
like  light  in  the  midst  of  darkness,  was  to  take  a 
part  in  the  common  affairs  of  life.  With  him  the 
Church  was  a  mighty  edifice  of  steeples  and  towers 
reaching  into  the  measureless  sky,  with  no  relations 
to  the  earth  except  as  a  mere  resting  place,  from 
which  it  would  ascend  heavenward. 

That  the  Church  was  to  be  a  refuge  for  the 
tempted  and  tried ;  that  it  was  to  be  the  resolute, 
abiding  friend  of  the  downtrodden  and  the  poor; 
that  it  was  to  stand  as  a  mighty  defense  between  the 
oppressor  and  the  oppressed ;  that  in  everything  per 
taining  to  the  real  progress  of  the  world  it  was  to  be 
the  stalwart  leader,  were  all  things  of  which  this  good 
man  had  not  the  faintest  idea.  But  how  could  lie  ? 
He  had  never  met  with  poverty,  nor  with  crime,  nor 
with  coarse,  brutal  sin  in  any  form. 

"  You  will  excuse  me,  Miss  Disney,  but,  not  having 
seen  you  at  church  for  a  Sunday  or  two,  may  I  ask  if 
you  have  been  ill  or  out  of  town  ? " 

The  tone  was  grave,  the  look  kindly,  the  inquiry 
sincere. 

Madge  was  just  a  little  troubled  as  to  what  to  say. 


DR.    BLAND   OF  ST.   EZEKIEL'S.  363 

She  had  not  been  ill.  She  had  not  been  out  of  town. 
These  time-honored  and  most  convenient  excuses 
could  not,  therefore,  be  brought  forward.  To  con 
fess  that  she  had  been  going  to  the  Mission  with 
John,  and  also  that  she  had  become  deeply  interested 
in  the  Mission,  might  possibly  annoy  Dr.  Bland.  This 
she  did  not  wish  to  do,  as  for  years  he  had  been  an 
intimate  friend  in  the  Disney  home. 

Mrs.  Disney,  however,  came  to  her  relief. 

"  The  fact  is,  Dr.  Bland,  a  college  friend  of  John's, 
and  a  very  dear  friend  of  the  family  as  well " — here 
just  the  daintiest  bit  of  color  crept  up  in  Madge's  face, 
and  Dr.  Bland,  though  he  was  devoted  to  the  Ante- 
Nicene  fathers,  thought  Madge  was  looking  most 
sweet  and  winsome — "  has  gone  over  to  the  East  Side 
to  engage  in  some  kind  of  mission  work,  and  Madge 
and  John  have  been  doing  duty  as  assistants.  I  have 
told  them  that  one  of  these  days  they  must  explain 
matters  to  you,  as  you  would  be  sure  to  notice  their 
absence  from  church." 

Mrs.  Disney  smiled  in  a  good-humored  way  at 
Madge.  She  did  not  altogether  approve  of  this 
mission  business,  but  she  approved  very  thoroughly 
of  Hugh  Dunbar.  Dunbar  dropped  in  quite  fre 
quently  now,  not  always  to  consult  with  John,  nor 
even  to  have  a  friendly  chat  with  Mrs.  Disney.  It 
is  hardly  worth  while  to  mention  that  Madge  was 
nearly  always  at  home  when  he  called. 

Mrs.  Disney's  frank  statement  of  the  case  opened 
the  way   for  a  general  discussion    of   the   Mission. 
This,  of  course,  led  to  the  mention  of  Hugh  Dunbar, 
when  Dr.  Bland  said: 
24 


364  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"  I  have  heard  something  of  tin's  young  man.  He 
must  be  a  noble  fellow." 

Again  that  dainty  color  stole  in  Madge's  face,  and 
again  Dr.  Bland  forgot  for  a  moment  or  two  the 
Ante-Nicene  fathers. 

The  result  of  the  conversation  was  that  Dr.  Bland 
remained  to  dinner,  after  dinner  going  over  to  the 
Mission  with  Madge  and  John. 

When  the  dear  man  got  over  to  the  East  Side, 
into  the  swarming,  hiving  streets,  where  he  saw 
such  strangeness  and  variety  of  life,  he  was  almost 
frightened.  His  fears,  however,  were  not  for  .him 
self,  but  for  Madge  ;  but  when  he  saw  how  fearlessly 
she  walked  at  the  side  of  John  his  anxiety  gradually 
disappeared.  After  this  he  began  to  enjoy  the  nov 
elty  and  excitement. 

Here  was  a  life  unlike  anything  he  had  ever  seen. 
Here  were  all  these  thousands  of  people  of  whose 
existence  he  had  never  been  really  conscious — men, 
women,  young,  old,  street  Arabs,  peddlers,  fakirs, 
factory  girls,  newsboys,  sweatshop  workers,  mechanics, 
laborers,  stevedores,  draymen,  marketmen — united 
to  him  in  bonds  of  human  relationship,  but  as  much 
strangers  as  if  they  had  come  from  a  distant  planet. 
From  one  he  heard  Italian,  from  another  Spanish. 
One  jabbered  in  Polish,  another  in  Russian.  Here 
he  listened  to  the  gutturals  of  the  German,  there  to 
the  brogue  of  the  Irish.  One  spoke  Parisian,  an 
other  cockney  English. 

What  an  infinite  distance  lay  between  the  parish 
occupied  by  the  Mission  and  that  of  St.  Ezekiel's ! 
For  the  third  time  that  day  he  forgot  about  the 


DR.    BLAND   OF  ST.    EZEKIEL'S.  365 

Ante-Nicene  fathers,  but  for  the  first  time  that  day,  or 
even  in  his  whole  life,  he  began  to  see  the  real  mean 
ing  of  the  parable  of  the  Good  Samaritan. 

The  Mission  House  was  a  revelation  to  him.  Mr. 
Dunbar  took  him  all  through  it.  He  saw  sewing 
rooms,  where  girls — little  girls  some  of  them — were 
taught  dressmaking,  shirtmaking,  garment-making  of 
all  kinds.  He  saw  boys'  tradesrooms,  where  instruc 
tion  was  given  to  boys  who  otherwise  would  never  be 
anything  but  common  laborers.  He  saw  gymnasiums, 
where  young  men  were  taking  courses  in  physical 
training,  the  value  of  which  would  make  life  stronger 
and  better  for  all  the  years  to  come.  He  saw  read 
ing  rooms,  where  scores  of  men  were  reading  books — 
some  on  mechanics,  some  on  chemistry,  some  lighter, 
such  as  history  or  fiction.  He  saw  play  rooms,  where 
groups  of  light-hearted  young  people  forgot  about 
the  drudgery  of  the  shop  and  were  enjoying  them 
selves  wholesomely.  He  saw  many  things  in  that 
tour  of  inspection.  Several  times  he  coughed  sus 
piciously,  as  if  there  was  a  sob  in  his  throat.  More 
than  once  he  wiped  his  eyes,  as  if  the  dust  troubled 
him.  But  there  wasn't  any  dust. 

Somehow  there  came  upon  him  the  feeling  that 
he  had  thought  too  much  about  the  Ante-Nicene 
fathers  and  not  enough  about  the  fathers  of  this 
generation.  St.  Ezekiel's  seemed  like  a  church  in 
the  sky,  but  this  Mission  was  a  church  on  the  ground. 
His  had  been  a  Gospel  of  spires  and  minarets,  where 
as  it  should  have  been  a  Gospel  of  pavements  and 
cobblestones.  A  remark  of  Hugh  Dunbar  wonder 
fully  impressed  him : 


366  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

"If  we  will  but  allow  Christianity  to  be  thor 
oughly  Christianized  the  whole  problem  will  be 
solved." 

It  was  later  than  usual  that  night  when  Dr.  Bland 
returned  to  his  home.  Nor  did  he  retire  even  then, 
late  as  it  was.  For  hours  he  sat  in  his  room  ponder 
ing  over  the  things  he  had  seen  and  heard.  The 
crowds  at  length  died  away,  the  voices  ceased  to  beat 
upon  his  ear,  but  somehow  in  his  sleep  there  came 
to  him  the  vision  of  the  Macedonian  standing  help 
less  and  entreating,  and  he  could  hear  his  pitiful  cry, 
"  Come  over  and  help  us  ! " 

On  the  next  Sunday  Dr.  Bland  made  no  reference 
to  the  Ante-Nicene  fathers,  nor  even  to  the  heresies 
of  the  church  at  Colosse.  He  preached  on  the 
"  Good  Samaritan,"  saying  some  plain  things  about 
the  priest  and  the  Levite. 

The  sermon  gave  rise  to  considerable  discussion. 
Mark  Brompton  didn't  like  it  at  all.  Some  of  the 
Von  der  Plonks  were  indignant.  Mr.  Keen  \\;-,.s 
angry.  Madge  and  John,  who  were  at  St.  Ezekiel's 
that  morning,  could  not  but  associate  the  sermon 
with  Dr.  Bland's  visit  to  the  Mission.  Mr.  Dunbar, 
when  he  heard  of  it,  smiled  in  that  grateful  but  sug 
gestive  way  of  his  and  said,  "  The  leaven  is  at 
work." 


EDWARD   VAUGHEN'S  SAD    DISCOVERY.          367 


CHAPTEK  XXXIX. 
Edward  Vaughen's  Sad  Discovery. 

IN  that  mysterious,  elusive,  but  singularly  effective 
way  which  women  have,  Miss  Keen  gave  Ed 
ward  Yaughen  to  understand  that  for  the  future 
their  ways  must  be  more  apart  than  they  had  been. 
At  first  Edward  was  completely  mystified.  He 
would  look  at  her  when  they  met  (which,  of  course, 
they  did  quite  often)  in  a  pained,  perplexed  way, 
wondering  what  it  all  meant.  Sometimes,  when  he 
would  take  her  by  surprise,  he  found  a  sad,  almost 
hopeless,  expression  on  her  face ;  but  the  moment  she 
saw  that  he  had  noticed  her  the  expression  would 
change,  so  that  she  would  appear  as  when  he  first  be 
came  acquainted  with  her. 

He  was  fully  aware  of  the  fact  that  for  the  present 
he  had  nothing  to  offer  her  save  the  strong,  honest 
love  of  his  eager  heart.  But  he  was  hopeful.  He  was 
ambitious.  Other  men  had  made  their  way;  he  would 
make  his.  He  was  resolved,  though,  that  his  way  would 
be  made  honestly.  But  the  world  of  business  was  a 
very  different  thing  from  what  he  had  imagined  in 
his  college  days.  Most  of  his  dreams  and  theories 
had  been  rudely  dispelled.  Long  since  he  had  parted 
with  his  hobby  of  the  "  unearned  increment,"  though 
Madge,  in  her  talks  with  John,  still  used  that  name 
for  him.  He  no  longer  spoke  of  "  the  poor  sheep 
huddling  on  the  bleak  mountain  side."  He  saw  the 


368  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

conduct  of  Gallio  in  a  new  light.  His  pet  notions 
concerning  the  redistribution  of  property  he  had 
abandoned  as  foolish  to  the  last  degree.  The  mean 
ingless  socialism  which  he  once  had  held  he  now  saw 
as  a  foolish  dream.  Gradually  it  had  dawned  upon 
him  that  capital  and  labor  were  merely  relative  terms. 

"  John,"  he  said  one  night,  as  the  two  cronies  were 
talking  after  the  manner  of  their  college  days, 
"  what  arrant  nonsense  we  used  to  get  off  in  the  old 
times !  " 

"Speak  for  yourself,  Edward  Vaughen,"  John 
answered,  in  his  dry  way.  "Say  'we'  at  your  peril. 
You  evidently  fail  to  remember  the  valuable  advice 
which  I  wasted  on  you  when  you  would  fill  my  room 
with  the  bleating  of  your  lost  sheep,  or  make  the  air 
blue  with  angry  denunciations  of  that  Gallio  who 
had  the  good  sense  to  mind  his  own  business  and 
wanted  other  people  to  mind  theirs.  Was  there  any 
thing  ever  so  soul-distressing  as  that  '  sad  undertone 
of  the  toiling  millions'  which  you  used  to  wail  out 
with  such  fervor  ?  Edward  Vaughen,  son  of  Thomas, 
if  you  say  'we'  again,  my  wrath  will  descend  upon 
yon  with  the  force  and  precision  of  a  pile  driver. 
When  I  think  of  the  stuff  you  used  to  throw  at  my 
defenseless  head — the  '  unearned  increment,'  the 
1  evasion  of  responsibility,'  and  all  the  rest  of  it — it 
makes  me  marvel  at  my  patience.  What  a  Job  I 
would  have  made !  The  only  drawback  is  Mrs.  Job. 
I  never  could  have  got  along  with  that  woman.  But 
this  '  we '  of  yours  is  the  coolest  thing  I  ever  heard 
of.  Icebergs  are  burning  volcanoes  in  comparison 
with  it." 


EDWARD   VAUGHEN'S    SAD   DISCOVERY.          369 

There  were  few  weeks  in  which  the  young  men 
did  not  spend  at  least  one  evening  with  each  other, 
one  time  Edward  going  up  to  the  Disney  home,  an 
other  time  John  coining  down  to  the  Gubbins  man 
sion. 

"  Slight  rift  in  the  lute,"  John  remarked  one  even 
ing  as  Miss  Pollok  pathetically  warbled,  "  When- 
other  lips  and  other  hearts." 

"  Her  '  tales  of  love '  have  flounces,  or  ruffles,  by 
the  way  she  lengthens  them  out,"  he  said,  as  the  next 
line,  in  quivering  installments,  came  up  stairs. 

"  Disney,  the  soul  of  music  is  not  in  you  ;  it 
never  was.  Miss  Pollok  shall  no  longer  waste  her 
dulcet  strains  on  you." 

With  this  Edward  closed  the  door.  At  the  same 
moment  the  artist  closed  his.  Likewise  Mr.  Wright. 
Likewise  Mr.  Singleton.  Miss  Dawdledom,  a  new 
boarder,  did  not  close  hers.  Miss  Dawdledom  was 
almost  totally  deaf. 

The  time  came  when  Edward  opened  his  heart  to 
John  about  Miss  Keen,  for  he  was  in  sore  need  of 
just  such  help  as  John  could  give.  He  told  him  of 
his  hopes,  of  the  way  in  which  they  used  to  look  for 
each  other,  of  the  tender,  sympathetic  relations  they 
had  sustained  for  now  almost  a  year.  He  also  spoke 
of  that  evening  in  Miss  Keen's  home,  then  adding  in 
a  brave  but  pathetic  way  : 

"  Old  fellow,  I  am  hard  hit,  and  I  won't  get  over 
it  for  a  good  while." 

"  You  mustn't  be  too  hard  on  Miss  Keen,"  John 
said,  sympathetically,  for  he  was  awfully  sorry  at 
the  turn  which  affairs  had  taken.  But  he  had 


370  DWELLERS    IN    GOTHAM. 

expected  this  to  come  sooner  or  later.  "  Mr.  Keen 
is  one  of  the  most  ambitious  men  in  the  city.  He 
has  been  anxious  for  a  long  time  to  get  himself  well 
placed  with  leading  business  men.  His  plan  all 
along  was  to  marry  his  daughter  to  Percy  Bromp- 
ton." 

"  Percy  Brompton  !  my  cousin !  "  Edward  ex 
claimed,  incredulously. 

"  Yes,  Percy  Brompton,  your  cousin.  Your 
worthy  uncle,  however,  saw  through  Mr.  Keen's 
nice  little  plan.  This  may  explain  why  Percy  was 
sent  South  on  some  railroad  matters  at  the  time  when 
Miss  Keen's  regard  for  you  seemed  to  decline,  and 
when  Percy  was  quite  a  frequent  guest  at  the  Keen 
domicile.  It  was  Madge  who  called  my  attention  to 
this.  Since  she  spoke  of  it  I  have  been  keeping 
track  of  things." 

Now  that  the  matter  was  brought  to  Edward's 
mind,  he  recalled  several  circumstances  which  seemed 
to  favor  John's  putting  of  the  case.  But  with  in 
stinctive  chivalry  he  refused  to  think  that  Miss  Keen 
was  a  party  to  these  proceedings. 

"  An  unwilling  party,  I  grant,  but  a  party,  never 
theless,"  John  insisted.  Now  that  the  matter  was  up, 
the  truest  kindness  to  Edward  would  be  to  open  his 
eyes  to  the  facts  just  as  they  were.  It  was  anything  but 
a  pleasant  task.  John  was  just  as  chivalrous  as  Ed 
ward  Vaughen.  "With  such  a  mother  and  sister  as 
he  had  he  could  not  but  have  a  high  ideal  of  woman 
hood.  To  reflect  on  Miss  Keen,  so  as  to  lower  her 
in  the  thought  of  Edward,  seemed  a  cruel  thing  to 
do.  So  he  began  : 


EDWARD  VAUGHEN'S  SAD    DISCOVERY.          371 

"We  must  not  be  too  severe  with  Miss  Keen. 
She  has  not  only  her  father's  blood  in  her  veins,  but 
all  her  life  has  been  under  his  influence.  If  you 
were  Mark  Brompton's  son  instead  of  his  nephew 
she  would  gladly  share  your  lot.  But  she  has  the 
same  ambitions  as  her  father.  Then  she  has  been 
accustomed  all  her  life  to  put  everything  on  a  money 
basis.  Percy  is  rich ;  you  are  poor.  She  is  sorry 
that  you  are  poor.  She  doubtless  wishes  that  you 
were  rich  and  Percy  poor.  That,  however,  will  not 
affect  her.  We  have  known  the  Keens  a  long  time, 
and  these  things  which  surprise  you  are  no  surprise 
to  me." 

What  a  night  that  was  for  Edward  Yaughen  ! 
The  poor  fellow  sat  in  that  old  rocker  by  the  window 
watching  the  clouds  bank  and  mass  themselves  in 
the  sky.  The  moon  was  hidden  behind  these  sky 
mountains — Alpine  ranges  of  cloud  and  darkness. 
Then  the  wind  came  up  strong  and  fierce  from  the 
sea,  blowing  a  very  tempest  which  swept  through  the 
streets  in  mad  passion.  After  weary  hours  of  dark 
ness  and  storm  the  pale  stars  came  out  from  their 
hiding-place.  The  clouds  gradually  disappeared. 
Once  again  the  moon  broke  upon  the  mystery  of  the 
night.  And  still  Edward  sat  at  the  window,  looking 
out  upon  the  parable  of  passion  and  despair  in  the 
earth  and  in  the  sky. 

Then  the  morning  came — gray,  cheerless,  barren ; 
after  this  the  sun ;  but  the  sun  did  not  shine  upon 
the  same  world  as  yesterday.  The  poetry  was  gone. 
The  romance  was  gone.  The  very  joy  of  life  was 
gone.  But,  worst  of  all,  his  noble  ideal  of  woman- 


372  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

hood  was  gone.  The  woman  to  whose  feet  he  would 
have  gladly  brought  all  the  hopes  and  desires  of  his 
heart  had  only  trifled  with  him.  She  was  heartless 
and  mercenary.  To  gratify  a  mere  sentiment  she 
had  taken  advantage  of  his  unfamiliarity  with  the 
world,  but  when  it  came  to  a  test  she  put  him  utterly 
aside.  He  watched  the  stars  fade  away,  the  gray 
light  open  out  into  morning  radiance,  the  new  day 
come  upon  the  city. 

He  was  very  quiet  as  he  sat  at  the  breakfast  table 
that  morning.  His  face  was  pale,  and  there  was  a 
stricken  look  upon  him  which  no  one  had  ever  seen 
there  before.  Faber  noticed  it,  but  said  nothing. 
Mr.  Singleton  also  noticed  it,  but  he  said  nothing 
either.  The  people  who  say  nothing  are  the  wisest 
and  truest  in  their  sympathies.  Any  brook  can 
babble. 

Mrs.  Gubbins,  being  a  very  practical  woman,  ex 
pressed  her  sympathy  through  a  cup  of  most  excellent 
coffee  and  the  nicest  chop  she  could  find.  She  did 
not  speak  of  the  matter  at  the  table,  but  afterward 
said  to  Jemima : 

"  That  poor,  dear  Mr.  Yaughen  was  in  some  kind 
of  trouble,  and  looked  real  sick." 

In  the  numerous  expeditions  which  Ethel  Bromp- 
ton,  now  Mrs.  Von  der  Plonk,  was  called  upon  to 
make  in  the  weeks  preceding  her  marriage,  the  dry- 
goods  house  of  Linsey  &  Woolsey  received  due 
patronage.  This  led  to  a  number  of  meetings  with 
Oberta  Sauvier.  Janet,  who  often  accompanied  her 
sister  on  these  very  interesting  pilgrimages,  would 


EDWARD   VAUGHEN'S   SAD    DISCOVERY.          373 

sometimes  remain  in  "  cloaks  and  wraps  "  while  Ethel 
went  to  another  part  of  the  store  to  study  carpets  or 
furniture  under  the  leadership  of  Mrs.  Brompton. 
Janet  found  Miss  Sauvier  very  much  of  a  lady. 
After  a  time  they  chatted  quite  pleasantly,  and  when 
Janet  spoke  of  her  sister's  approaching  marriage 
Oberta,  of  course,  was  much  interested,  for  have  we 
not  high  -authority  for  the  statement  that  "  the  whole 
world  loves  a  lover  ?  "  And  does  not  the  right  kind 
of  a  lover  usually  mean  a  wedding  ?  Oberta  having 
exquisite  taste,  as  well  as  considerable  experience, 
was  able  to  suggest  certain  arrangements  and  com 
binations  which  met  the  approval  of  the  Brompton 
contingent.  Indeed,  Mrs.  Brompton  was  once  heard 
to  remark  that  "  that  young  person  in  Linsey  & 
"Woolsey's  was  a  most  capable  saleswoman." 

After  the  wedding  there  was  quite  a  little  interval 
when  Janet  did  not  go  to  the  store ;  but  one  day  she 
went  alone.  She  had  no  special  need  to  visit  Oberta's 
department ;  nevertheless  she  went  up  stairs  to 
"  cloaks  and  wraps."  When  she  saw  Oberta,  in  the 
most  cordial,  kindly  way  she  held  out  her  hand, 
greeting  her  as  she  would  any  of  her  friends.  They 
talked  for  a  few  moments,  Oberta  asking  about  Mrs. 
Yon  der  Plonk,  and  saying  with  what  interest  she 
had  read  of  the  wedding.  Just  then  a  young  man 
came  over  from  the  elevator,  but  seeing  Oberta 
engaged  with  a  lady,  whom  he  took  to  be  a  customer, 
he  waited  quietly,  standing  somewhat  in  the  back 
ground.  As  soon  as  Oberta  saw  him  she  impul 
sively  said,  "  Why,  here  is  my  brother !  "  upon  which 
Fred  at  once  came  forward.  But  in  a  moment  the 


374  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

situation  became  embarrassing.  Oberta  could  not  in 
troduce  Fred  to  Miss  Brompton.  Without  Miss 
Brompton's  permission  such  a  thing  could  not  be 
done,  and  if  done  would  be  rudeness  unpardonable. 
But  when  a  keen-witted,  good-hearted  woman  under 
takes  to  lead  anyone  out  of  a  difficulty  she  soon  finds 
a  way. 

"  Miss  Sauvier,  will  you  kindly  introduce  me  to 
your  brother  ? "  said  Janet,  reaching  out  her  hand  at 
the  same  moment  to  Fred,  for  she  never  did  anything 
by  halves.  "  Mr.  John  Disney,  a  dear  friend  of 
ours,  has  spoken  so  often  of  Mr.  Sauvier  that  we  all 
feel  acquainted  with  him." 

Then  she  remained  for  a  couple  of  minutes,  chat 
ting  in  the  most  cordial  way. 

"Miss  Brompton,"  Fred  repeated,  after  she  had 
gone ;  "  any  relation,  I  wonder,  of  Mr.  Mark  Bromp 
ton,  one  of  our  directors  ? " 

"  His  daughter,"  answered  Oberta,  not,  either, 
without  pride,  for  it  was  a  source  of  much  gratifica 
tion  to  her  that  people  of  the  social  rank  of  the 
Disneys  and  the  Bromptons  gave  her  a  place  in  their 
regard. 

How  the  leaven  of  Hugh  Dunbar's  ministry  was 
spreading !  And  with  what  amazing  energy  it  was 
doing  its  work ! 

The  next  day  in  the  office  Fred  spoke  to  John 
Disney  of  having  met  Miss  Brompton,  upon  which 
John  declared  that  "  Janet  Brompton  was  one  of  the 
nicest  girls  in  New  York."  To  this  remark  Fred 
Sauvier  took  no  exception,  either  then  or  ever  after 
ward. 


MR.    BLINKS  AND    MR.   WINKS.  375 


CHAPTEE  XL. 

Mr.  Blinks  and  Mr.  Winks. 

*T  ^ERE  we  have  a  question  in  casuistry.  Mr. 
j~~j  Blinks  and  Mr.  Winks  at  one  time  were  most 
\y  intimate  friends.  So  cordial  were  their  rela 
tions  that  when  they  moved  from  the  city  to  the  sub 
urbs  they  had  their  houses  built  on  adjoining  lots, 
without  any  fence  between.  But  for  some  reason 
Mr.  Blinks  changed  in  his  feelings  toward  Mr. 
Winks.  So  complete  was  this  change  that  he  began 
to  consider  Mr.  Winks  as  the  personification  of  all 
villainies.  Feeding  his  anger  with  highly  inflam 
mable  material,  he  soon  had  a  heart  which  almost 
breathed  out  threatenings  and  slaughter.  He  deter 
mined,  therefore,  to  dispose  of  Mr.  Winks.  After 
thinking  the  matter  over  Mr.  Blinks  concluded  that 
a  bomb  of  the  right  size,  properly  located  under  the 
house  of  Mr.  Winks,  would  answer  his  purpose.  In 
short,  to  put  it  in  the  plainest  terms,  Mr.  Blinks  re 
solved  that  Mr.  Winks  should  be  blown  up  "sky 
high." 

Accordingly  he  procured  a  bomb,  connected  it 
with  an  electric  battery  which  he  had  concealed  in 
his  own  room,  watched  his  opportunity  to  carry  the 
bomb  to  his  neighbor's  house,  after  which,  Welling 
ton-like,  he  wished  for  night. 

Mr.  Winks,  for  some  reason,  came  home  earlier 
than  usual  that  evening.  Having  never  outgrown 


376  DWELLERS   IN   GOTHAM. 

his  passionate  love  for  a  lawn  mower,  lie  went  down 
to  his  cellar,  that  he  might  gaze  with  rapture  upon  a 
new  one  which  he  was  anxious  to  use.  While  in  the 
cellar  he  saw  the  bomb.  At  first  he  did  not  know 
just  what  to  do  with  it,  for  bombs  are  quick-tempered, 
and  fly  off  on  the  least  provocation.  Seeing  a  wire 
attached  to  this  bomb,  he  traced  that  wire  to  the 
next  house.  Being  a  very  honest  man,  he  at  once 
decided  that  the  bomb  belonged  to  the  next  house, 
and  that  it  had  strayed  out  from  its  proper  home. 
"With  all  the  tenderness  of  a  shepherd  with  a  poor, 
sick  lamb  he  carried  the  bomb  back  to  its  fold.  The 
strained  relations  between  these  once  good  friends 
prevented  Mr.  Winks  from  informing  Mr.  Blinks  of 
what  he  had  done.  Besides  being  honest,  Mr. 
Winks  was  modest,  for  he  even  waited  for  the  early 
night  before  carrying  the  bomb  home.  And  so  no 
one  saw  the  kindly  thing  which  he  had  done. 

Sometime  in  the  night  he  was  aroused  from  his 
peaceful  slumbers  by  a  terrific  explosion,  upon  which 
he  rushed  to  the  window,  just  in  time  to  see  Mr. 
Blinks  taking  a  skyward  excursion,  moving  upward 
with  such  rapidity  that  he  must  soon  land  some 
where  in  the  moon.  Now  for  the  question :  Of 
what  crime  was  Mr.  Blinks  guilty  ?  or  of  what  crime 
was  Mr.  Winks  guilty  ? 

This  affecting  anecdote  is  explanatory  of  the  rela 
tions  between  Keen  &  Sharp  and  Mark  Brompton. 
Keen  &  Sharp  procured  the  bomb,  set  the  battery, 
and  arranged  for  the  time  when  the  button  would 
be  pressed.  Mr.  Brompton  cautiously  removed  the 
bomb  from  his  premises,  carried  it  over  to  the  prein- 


MR.    BLINKS  AND   MR.   WINKS.  377 

ises  of  Keen  &  Sharp,  and  when  Mr.  Keen  gave  the 
sign  for  Mr.  Sharp  to  push  the  button  Mr.  Brornp- 
ton  was  standing  at  the  window  to  see  them  go  flying 
in  the  air. 

That  was  a  terrible  day  in  "Wall  Street.  It  opened 
like  the  battle  of  Waterloo.  There  was  firing  all 
along  the  line.  For  hours  it  raged,  fortunes  going 
down,  like  the  Old  Guard,  into  the  terrible  ravine. 
Men  who  were  rich  that  morning  when  they  left 
their  homes  went  back  bankrupt.  Friends  of  Keen 
&  Sharp  charged  upon  the  friends  of  Mark  Bromp- 
ton,  as  the  French  upon  the  Chateau  de  Hougo- 
mont.  But  Mark  Brompton  knew  how  the  battle 
would  end.  In  his  strong  box  he  held  stock  for 
which  Keen  &  Sharp  would  gladly  have  paid  a  hun 
dred  times  its  value.  At  the  right  moment  he  gave 
the  sign,  and  Keen  &  Sharp  were  hopelessly  ruined. 

It  meant  utter  bankruptcy  for  Mi-.  Keen.  He 
was  well  aware  that  once  his  treachery  became 
known  on  the  "  Street  "  he  might  just  as  well  leave 
New  York  forever.  "Wall  Street  admires  pluck, 
grit,  gigantic  schemes,  combinations  that  reach  all 
around  the  world.  When  a  man  is  beaten  down 
by  misfortune,  if  he  has  made  a  fair  fight,  Wall 
Street  will  help  him  to  his  feet  again.  But  when  a 
man  has  acted  dishonorably,  when  the  broker  goes 
back  on  his  client,  Wall  Street  rises  in  its  wrath,  and 
such  a  one  is  cast  out  of  the  financial  synagogue. 
This  was  what  Keen  &  Sharp  had  done,  and  when 
that  terrible  day  closed  they  knew  that  the  end  had 
come. 

It  is  impossible  not  to  pity  Mr.  Keen.     He  had 


378  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

played  for  high  stakes,  and  he  had  lost.  The  ambi 
tions  of  his  whole  life  centered  upon  the  results  of 
this  day.  But  he  was  beaten.  And  the  worst  of  it 
was  that  he  deserved  to  be  beaten.  lie  had  played 
his  game  dishonestly.  He  has  listened  to  the  voice, 
"  All  these  will  I  give  thee,"  but  the  voice  lied. 

That  night  he  gathered  up  such  things  as  he  could, 
leaving  the  city  on  the  midnight  train.  The  next 
day,  when  the  newspapers  were  announcing  his  fail 
ure,  he  was  on  his  way  to  Rio  Janeiro,  where  he  re 
mained  for  the  rest  of  his  life. 

Mrs.  Keen  was  not  left  quite  destitute,  as  some 
years  before  Mr.  Keen  made  over  to  her  a  little 
property  intended  just  for  "pin  money,"  but  now  it 
was  all  she  had.  She  and  Rhea  left  New  York  as 
soon  as  they  could  conveniently  get  away.  They  did 
not  go  to  Rio  Janeiro,  but  to  some  little  place  in 
Maine,  where  Mrs.  Keen  had  distant  relations. 

One  thing  here  should  be  said  of  Rhea.  Edward 
"Vanghen  wrote  her  in  the  most  tender  and  sympa 
thetic  way,  which,  had  she  been  disposed  to  take  advan 
tage  of,  might  easily  have  led  to  a  return  of  the  con 
ditions  once  existing  between  them.  But  she  merely 
acknowledged  his  letter,  taking  care  in  her  reply  to 
obviate  the  necessity  of  his  writing  again. 

He  then  called,  but  a  formal  "  not  at  home  "  was 
the  only  result.  Not  content  with  this,  he  called 
again,  but  Mrs.  Keen  and  Rhea  had  left  town. 

On  the  evening  of  that  eventful  day  when  Keen 
&  Sharp  met  with  such  an  overwhelming  defeat 
Dr.  Disney  looked  anxious  and  troubled.  As  it  was 
known  in  the  family  that  he  had  two  or  three  very 


MR.    BLINKS   AND   MR.   WINKS.  379 

serious  cases  on  liis  list  which  were  unusually  severe, 
his  anxiety  gave  no  special  concern.  But  he  was,  if 
anything,  even  more  gracious  and  considerate  than 
for  weeks  past.  In  the  course  of  the  evening  Mr. 
Dunbar  came  in  and  spent  a  little  while  with  Mrs. 
Disney  and  Madge,  afterward  going  to  the  doctor's 
sitting  room,  saying  he  wished  to  see  him  alone. 
After  Mr.  Dunbar  had  left  the  parlor  Mrs.  Disney 
looked  inquiringly  at  Madge,  upon  which  Madge 
looked  answeringly  at  Mrs.  Disney.  Then  Mrs. 
Disney  got  up  from  her  chair,  Madge  at  the  same 
instant  getting  np  from  hers.  In  another  moment 
Mrs.  Disney  had  Madge  in  her  arms,  and  they  were 
kissing  and  smiling  and  shedding  tears  all  at  once. 

Then  Dr.  Disney  came  in  with  Hugh  Dunbar, 
and  taking  Madge  by  the  hand,  gave  her  to  Dunbar, 
saying,  "  She  is  worthy  of  all  the  love  that  you  can 
give  her." 

As  he  spoke  he  tenderly  kissed  her  on  the  lips  and 
on  the  forehead,  and  stroked  her  head  in  that  gentle, 
loving  way  of  his.  He  shook  hands  cordially  with 
Dunbar,  and  in  Mrs.  Disney's  behalf  as  well  as  his 
own  gave  him  hearty  welcome  to  their  household. 
But  he  was  very  grave,  and  his  voice  seemed  full  of 
tears.  He  soon  went  back  to  his  sitting  room,  where 
he  remained  alone. 

Later  on  John  came  in,  and  he  had  quite  a  long 
talk  with  his  father,  John  going  over  some  plans 
which  he  had  partly  formed  about  starting  in  busi 
ness  for  himself. 

"That  clerking  of  mine  in  the  Tubal-Cain  Iron 
Works  has  given  me  both  information  and  experi- 
25 


380  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

ence,"  John  said.  "  But  now  that  I  have  decided 
upon  going  into  regular  business  the  sooner  1  get  at 
it  the  better." 

To  this  Dr.  Disney  assented,  at  the  same  time 
asking  John  if  any  definite  plan  had  occurred  to 
him.  John  then  went  on  to  speak  of  Mr.  Bromp- 
ton,  who,  he  said,  had  a  large  interest  in  the  Tubal- 
Cain  Works,  but  who  might  be  disposed  to  make 
some  arrangement  in  the  matter.  Indeed,  he  had 
spoken  of  it  himself,  "not  so  much  on  my  ac 
count,"  John  said,  with  a  frank  smile,  "  as  to  make 
an  opening  for  Percy.  Mr.  Brompton  has  made  the 
discovery  that  Percy  is  much  better  off  when  he  has 
something  to  do.  That  was  why  he  sent  him  South 
on  that  railroad  business.  You  have  seen  the  even 
ing  papers,  of  course  ?  Terrible  affair  that  of  Keen 
&  Sharp  !  But  they  should  have  known  better  than 
run  up  against  Mark  Brompton.  Dad,  you  are  not 
looking  well.  As  you  sometimes  say,  *  been  rather 
overdoing  of  late.'  Why  not  let  up  on  things  ? " 

"  I  am  going  to  write  to  Mr.  Brompton  perhaps 
to-night,"  the  doctor  said.  "  I  have  a  matter  upon 
which  I  desire  his  judgment.  If  you  wish  I  will  re 
fer  to  what  you  have  said." 

"  O,  thank  you  !  A  word  from  you  will  have 
great  weight  with  Mr.  Brompton,"  John  answered. 

So  they  talked  on  for  some  little  time  longer. 
Then  with,  "  Good  night,  my  boy !  "  "  Good  night, 
dad  ! "  they  parted. 

Mrs.  Disney  had  retired  when  the  doctor  went  to 
her  room,  but  was  not  asleep,  so  he  went  over  to  tlie 
bed,  kissed  her,  bade  her  good  night,  saying  that  he 


MR.    BLINKS  AND    MR.   WINKS.  381 

had  some  letters  to  write  which  would  detain  him  in 
his  office  for  perhaps  an  hour.  Then  he  turned 
down  the  light,  arranged  the  shade  so  that  even  the 
faint  glimmer  would  not  disturb  Mrs.  Disney,  looked 
about  the  room  to  see  that  everything  was  all  right,  after 
which  he  went  out,  closing  the  door  gently  behind  him. 

On  going  to  his  office,  he  went  to  the  little  safe, 
taking  from  it  a  box  in  which  he  kept  his  private 
papers.  He  went  over  these  papers  carefully,  select 
ing  first  one,  and  then  another,  until  he  had  per 
haps  a  dozen,  all  told,  which  he  put  in  a  large,  heavy 
envelope,  securing  it  with  rubber  bands.  The  others 
he  burned,  careful  even  to  stir  up  the  light  crisp  re 
mains,  so  that  no  one  looking  at  the  fireplace  would 
suspect  anything  of  what  had  been  done. 

Then  he  wrote  a  long  letter  to  Mark  Brompton, 
inclosing  with  it  the  large,  heavy  envelope,  the  con 
tents  of  which  he  had  so  carefully  arranged.  This 
he  weighed  on  his  "  postal  scale,"  affixing  the  neces 
sary  stamps.  Everyone  now  being  in  bed,  he  took 
the  letter  himself  to  the  mail  box,  which  was  on  the 
corner  of  the  next  street,  going  out  and  coming  in  so 
quietly  as  not  to  disturb  Mrs.  Disney,  who  was  a 
very  light  sleeper. 

When  he  came  back  he  did  not  go  up  stairs  to  his 
room,  but  returned  to  the  office,  sitting  down  in  a 
big  chair,  where  he  watched  the  fire  slowly  dying  in 
the  grate. 

And  this  was  how  they  found  him  in  the  morning. 
But  his  eyes  were  closed  never  to  be  opened  again, 
and  his  face  was  still  in  death ! 

That  night  when  Fred  Sauvier  came  home  from 


382  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

the  office  he  told  his  mother  and  Oberta  of  the  aw 
fully  sudden  death  of  Dr.  Disney.  Oberta,  glancing 
swiftly  at  her  mother,  saw  that  her  face  was  like 
marble.  But  Mrs.  Sauvier  said  nothing.  She  soon, 
however,  went  to  her  room,  where  she  remained  for 
the  rest  of  the  evening.  In  response  to  the  inquiries 
of  Oberta  she  complained  of  not  feeling  well,  but 
hoped  to  be  better  in  the  morning.  In  the  morning 
she  was  at  the  breakfast  table  in  her  usual  place,  but 
her  face  was  almost  as  gray  and  deathly  as  that  of 
the  dead  man  who  had  been  found  in  his  office  chair. 

Mark  Brompton  was  at  home  when  the  morning 
mail  brought  him  Dr.  Disney's  letter,  but,  seeing  that 
it  was  marked  "  Personal,"  he  did  not  open  it  at  the 
breakfast  table  with  his  other  letters.  On  going  into 
the  library,  from  the  weight  and  size  of  the  envelope 
he  thought  it  must  be  a  lengthy  communication.  He 
therefore  sat  down,  but  before  he  had  read  the  letter 
half  through  he  hastily  rose  from  his  chair,  and,  call 
ing  the  footman,  ordered  the  carriage  to  be  brought 
immediately.  While  waiting  for  the  carriage  he 
finished  reading  the  letter,  which  he  then  folded  up, 
carefully  replacing  it  in  the  envelope  with  the  other 
papers,  locking  them  all  up  in  his  private  desk. 

A  stern,  pitiless  face  Mark  Brompton  had  as  he 
stepped  into  his  carriage.  As  a  man  of  iron  he  had 
gone  through  the  battle  of  the  previous  day.  With 
out  a  quiver  or  an  emotion  of  pity  he  had  driven 
Keen  &  Sharp  to  a  ruin  from  which  escape  was  hope 
less.  Nor  had  even  this  contented  him,  but  with  a 
spirit  that  was  remorseless  he  had  brought  ruin  upon 
many  who  had  taken  sides  with  them.  The  taste  of 


MR.    BLINKS  AND   MR.   WINKS.  383 

blood  was  upon  his  lips.  His  face  was  therefore  impla 
cable  as  his  carriage  stopped  at  theDisney  home. 

But  on  coming  to  the  door,  to  his  amazement,  he 
saw  the  fatal  flowers  against  a  background  of  dark 
ribbon,  tied  to  the  bell  handle.  He  knew  then  that 
death  was  in  the  house — most  likely  Mrs.  Disney,  he 
thought.  When  John  gave  him  the  terrible  news  his 
anger  died  within  him,  for  who  can  be  angry  in  the 
awful  presence  of  death  ?  He  remained  for  some 
time,  comforting  as  best  he  could  the  sorely,  afflicted 
home,  and  before  he  left,  when  they  took  him  to  the 
room  where  the  poor  dead  body  lay,  he  could  not 
restrain  the  tears,  and  broke  down  helplessly. 

On  going  back  to  his  home,  which  he  did  as  soon 
as  he  left  the  Disneys,  he  took  out  Dr.  Disney's  let 
ter  once  more,  this  time,  however,  not  to  read  it,  but 
to  destroy  it,  as  well  as  all  the  other  papers  with 
which  it  came. 

Twenty-five  years  before  Dr.  Disney  had  tempted 
Fred  Sauvier  to  dishonor  and  crime,  for  it  was  at  his 
suggestion  that  the  forgery  was  committed.  But 
now  the  same  sins  are  upon  his  own  soul,  for  he 
has  forged,  using  Mark  Brompton's  name  on  notes 
given  by  him  to  Keen  &  Sharp.  Discovery  is  now 
inevitable.  The  same  horror  and  disgrace  which  fell 
upon  Fred  Sauvier  will  now  fall  upon  him.  "  What 
soever  a  man  soweth,  that  shall  he  also  reap." 

But  Mark  Brornpton  never  told.  So  the  world 
never  knew  of  the  awful  secret  which  was  buried  in 
Dr.  Disney's  grave. 

Hunger  has  slain  its  hundreds,  pride  its  thousands, 
ambition  its  tens  of  thousands. 


384  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 


EPILOGUE. 

*|  <  OWEVER  strenuously  Edward  Vaughen  might 
j  object  to  a  preface,  there  is  surely  no  reason 

^/  for  him  to  question  the  propriety  of  an  epi 
logue,  for  one  cannot  leave  a  story  as  he  would  a 
play — with  the  stage  full  of  people  to  go  scampering 
off  as  they  please  when  the  curtain  drops.  Neither 
can  we  let  go  in  this  abrupt  way  the  friends  with 
whom  we  have  enjoyed  such  a  lengthy  companion 
ship.  For  instance,  there  is  Jamie  Smithers.  "We 
surely  ought  to  know  how  it  fared  with  him.  Well, 
he  recovered  from  that  sickness  of  his,  for  all  the 
boy  required  was  rest  and  nourishment.  These  Sis 
ter  Nora  took  care  of.  He  still  carves,  but  he  has 
gone  far  beyond  salad  sets,  or  "  them  Swiss  frames." 
His  work  is  now  eagerly  sought  for.  Indeed,  there 
are  decorating  establishments,  well  known  to  wealthy 
Gothamites,  who  are  glad  to  have  Jamie  do  special 
carvings  for  them.  His  face  is  not  so  white  nor  so 
thin  as  it  once  was ;  he  has  grown  quite  a  little,  still 
he  is  not  too  big  for  his  mother  to  take  him  on  her 
knee  ;  so  she  croons  to  him  and  sings  to  him  as  she 
ever  did,  and  most  likely  ever  will  until  he  goes  back 
to  his  home  among  the  angels. 

As  for  Silas  Smithers,  his  days  of  trouble  ended 
just  as  soon  as  he  found  steady  work.  This  Sister 
Nora  also  took  care  of.  Nor  was  it  a  very  difficult 
matter,  once  he  got  a  fair  start ;  hence  through  Sister 


EPILOGUE.  385 

Nora's  influence  bis  way  opened  from  one  place  to 
another,  so  that  his  business  steadily  increased;  he 
has  now  a  little  shop  of  his  own  and  is  doing  nicely ; 
he  enjoys  his  armchair  just  as  well  as  he  ever  did — 
also  the  old  stubby  pipe.  Last  Christinas  "Mollie" 
was  fairly  extravagant,  buying  him  a  handsome  brier 
with  a  genuine  amber  tip,  but  he  only  uses  it  on 
state  occasions. 

Ethel  Yon  der  Plonk  could  not  but  hear  in  due 
time  of  David  Stanley's  good  fortune ;  but  whatever 
regret  she  may  have  felt  she  was  sufficiently  wise  to 
keep  her  own  counsel.  Once  Janet  alluded  to  it, 
then  rather  thoughtlessly,  when  she  said : 

"  Ethel,  you  came  very  near  being  a  duchess." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Ethel,  "  but  perhaps  it  is  just  as 
well  as  it  is." 

The  reply  was  quiet,  but  so  conclusive  that  the 
matter  was  not  spoken  of  again. 

Mrs.  Brompton  did  not  realize  all  the  happiness 
she  had  expected  from  her  alliance  with  the  Yon  der 
Plonks.  Ethel  was  accepted  as  inevitable,  but  that 
acceptance  did  not  include  Mrs.  Brompton.  Then 
she  had  the  bitter  memory  of  the  stolen  letter,  and 
with  it  the  still  more  bitter  reflection  that  but  for  her 
Ethel  might  now  be  a  duchess,  hobnobbing  with  roy 
alty,  in  which  exalted  honors  Mrs.  Brompton  herself 
would  have  had  a  share.  As  David  Stanley,  now 
Duke  of  Paddington,  was  too  much  of  a  gentleman 
to  write  or  make  any  inquiries,  Mrs.  Brompton  is  the 
only  one  who  knows  just  how  near  Ethel  came  to 
wearing  a  coronet. 

The  Keens  never  came  back  to  New  York.     Mr. 


386  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

Keen  died  within  a  short  time  after  reaching  Rio 
Janeiro.  It  was  rumored,  though,  that  Rhea  was 
going  to  marry  a  wealthy  lumber  merchant  quite  a 
little  older  than  herself ;  how  much  truth  was  in  the 
rumor  no  one  could  say. 

Edward  Vaughen,  after  some  years  of  experience 
in  office  work,  started  in  business  for  himself.  Mr. 
Brompton  was  his  backer  to  a  substantial  amount,  all 
of  which  Edward  repaid.  Mr.  Singleton  has  an  inter 
est  in  the  new  firm,  besides  being  confidant  and  man 
ager.  Edward  is  not  making  money  "hand  over 
fist,"  but  he  is  making  a  good  income,  one  which 
would  have  enabled  him  to  give  a  pleasant  home  to 
Rhea  Keen,  had  she  only  waited  for  him.  His 
mother  lives  with  him  the  greater  part  of  the  year, 
but  she  spends  her  summers  at  Eastwich,  keeping 
tender  watch  of  that  grave  in  the  village  church 
yard. 

Mr.  Faber  in  due  time  was  promoted  to  one  of  the 
editorial  desks  on  the  Troinbone.  Not  long  after 
this  promotion  Oberta  left "  cloaks  and  wraps,"  much 
to  the  regret  of  Linsey  &  Woolsey,  Hugh  Dunbar 
performing  the  ceremony  which  changed  her  name 
to  Mrs.  Dixon  Faber. 

Janet  Brompton,  when  she  heard  of  this  wedding 
possibility,  actually  asked,  in  just  about  so  many 
words,  to  be  Oberta's  bridesmaid !  Mrs.  Brompton 
was  indignant,  but  Janet  appealed  to  her  father,  who 
decidedly  said  : 

"  Certainly,  if  Miss  Sauvier  wishes  it." 

A  great  change  had  come  over  Mark  Brompton 
since  the  death  of  Dr.  Disney.  He  withdrew  almost 


EPILOGUE.  387 

entirely  from  speculation,  giving  his  time  to  other 
interests.  He  carried  out  a  number  of  Janet's  no 
tions  in  Bromptonville,  where  his  mills  and  factories 
are.  Comfortable  dwellings  are  now  provided  for 
the 'operatives;  the  scale  of  wages  has  been  care 
fully  revised ;  a  fund  has  been  set  apart  to  secure 
pensions  for  such  as  are  no  longer  able  to  work; 
the  principle  of  cooperation  has  been  recognized,  not 
formally,  for  that  Mr.  Brompton  did  not  consider 
expedient,  but  in  spirit,  which,  after  all,  is  of  more 
importance.  When  he  goes  to  Bromptonville  a  regu 
lar  ovation  is  given  him.  As  for  Janet,  the  people 
simply  worship  her. 

John  Disney  had  no  difficulty  in  arranging  with 
Mr.  Brompton  for  control  of  the  Tubal-Cain  Iron 
"Works.  Neither  had  Mr.  Brompton  any  special 
trouble  with  the  other  stockholders,  for  when  he 
made  a  thorough  investigation  he  found  that  the~con- 
cern  had  actually  been  losing  money  for  some  time, 
though  paying  dividends  all  the  while  !  Mr.  Bromp 
ton  placed  no  reliance  whatever  upon  the  time-hon 
ored  remark,  "  Figures  won't  lie."  He  knew  that 
when  properly  juggled  figures  are  the  biggest  kind 
of  liars.  So  these  dividends  had  been  taken  out  of  the 
plant,  out  of  the  quality  of  the  goods,  out  of  every 
thing  there  was. 

The  concern  was  therefore  virtually  bankrupt.  In 
his  curt,  decisive  way  he  gave  the  other  stockholders 
to  understand  that  they  must  "  either  buy  or  sell," 
else  he  would  ask  for  the  appointment  of  a  receiver. 
Being  children  of  this  generation,  therefore  wise  as 
regards  "  the  mammon  of  unrighteousness,"  they 


388  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

sold  out  to  Mr.  Brompton.  He  in  turn  sold  out  to 
his  son  Percy  and  John  Disney.  Our  distinguished 
friends,  Mr.  Falcon,  Mr.  Stubbs,  and  Mr.  Stafford, 
were  very  much  aggrieved  at  the  turn  of  affairs,  par 
ticularly  as  it  turned  them  out  upon  a  cold,  inhospi 
table  world.  Fred  Sauvier  is,  at  this  writing,  general 
manager. 

The  concern  is  now  Disney  &  Brompton,  Mr. 
Brompton  insisting  that  John's  name  should  have 
the  first  place. 

John  Disney  is  no  dreamer,  no  Arabian  Nights 
reformer,  no  Utopian  philosopher ;  on  the  contrary, 
he  is  one  of  the  coolest,  shrewdest  business  men  in 
the  city.  But  he  recognizes  that  his  men  have 
rights  which  he  is  bound  to  respect.  He  thinks 
there  is  a  "  Golden  Rule  "  somewhere  which  ought  to 
be  applied  in  business.  Hence  he  tries  to  do  as  "  he 
would  be  done  by."  Once  in  a  while  he  "  strikes  a 
snag"  among  the  workmen,  but  they  talk  it  over, 
finally  adjusting  it  to  mutual  satisfaction. 

The  removal  of  both  Edward  Yaughcn  and  Dixon 
Faber  from  the  kindly  care  of  Mrs.  Gubbins  was  a 
great  grief  to  that  good-hearted  woman.  Their 
commendable  promptness  in  paying  their  board  bills, 
not  to  speak  of  certain  other  good  qualities,  had  se 
cured  for  them  a  deep  place  in  the  affection  of  Mrs. 
Gubbins.  She  therefore  viewed  their  departure  in 
the  light  not  only  of  a  personal  bereavement,  but  also 
a  household  calamity. 

"  Prompter  pay  I  never  had  from  anyone,"  she 
said  to  Mr.  Wright,  an  expression  which  served  two 
purposes,  for  it  was  both  an  appreciation  and  a 


EPILOGUE.  389 

reminder.  It  could  not  truthfully  be  said  of  Mr. 
Wright  that  he  was  enthusiastically  prompt.  Neither 
was  the  humorist.  The  artist  was.  So  was  Miss 
Pollok. 

It  was  with  a  feeling  of  downright  regret  that 
Edward  left  his  "  third  floor,  hall  back."  Still,  he 
could  not  forbear  a  quiet  smile  when,  on  coming 
down  the  stairs,  he  heard  Miss  Pollok  warble,  in 
tones  that  were  distinctly  tremulous,  "No  one  to 
love,  none  to  caress,"  the  piano  responding  with  all 
the  power  of  which  it  was  capable. 

Mrs.  Sauvier  now  makes  her  home  with  Oberta, 
for  the  time  came  when  Fred  had  his  home  in  the 
suburbs.  A  sweet,  pleasant  home  it  is,  presided  over 
by  our  good  friend  Janet  Brompton !  This  was  about 
the  last  drop  in  Mrs.  Brompton's  cup  of  bitterness. 
When  she  saw  the  growing  intimacy  of  the  young 
people  she  appealed  to  Ethel.  Ethel  looked  sternly 
at  her  mother  out  of  those  sharp  eyes  of  hers — at 
times  Ethel  strongly  resembled  her  father — and  said  : 

"  I  should  think  that  you  ought  to  know  by  this 
time  the  sin  of  interfering  in  matters  like  these." 

It  was  not  a  sweet  remark,  hardly  even  a  proper 
one,  but  there  were  some  things  which  Ethel  could 
not  forget.  Mrs.  Brompton  turned  very  pale  when 
Ethel  made  this  remark.  For  the  moment  she  was 
almost  certain  that  Ethel  knew  of  the  stolen  letter. 

Mrs.  Sauvier  has  lost  not  only  from  her  face  but 
from  her  heart  the  old  bitterness.  Indeed,  so  com 
pletely  is  the  past  forgiven  that  she  visits  frequently 
at  the  Disney  home.  Madge  she  loves  dearly.  But 
then  every  one  loves  Madge. 


390  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

At  first  the  congregation  of  St.  Ezekiel's  listened 
with  amazement  as  Dr.  Bland  discoursed  on  the 
problems  of  city  life,  taking  them  up  one  after  the 
other  in  his  dignified  but  earnest  way.  He  made 
no  reference  whatever  to  the  Nestorian  theories,  and 
the  extremes  to  which  they  led  in  the  Eutychian 
heresies.  He  even  omitted  to  give  his  reasons  for 
taking  exception  to  the  chronology  of  Archbishop 
Usher  in  some  matter  concerning  the  Hittites.  As 
for  the  Ante-Nicene  fathers,  they  were  ignored 
altogether.  But  after  a  time  St.  Ezekiel's  entered 
into  the  spirit  of  Dr.  Bland,  so  much  so  that  if  the 
labor  delegate  to  whom  Hugh  Dunbar  gave  serious 
attention  one  Sunday  afternoon  should  ever  visit  St. 
Ezekiel's  he  will  receive  as  cordial  a  welcome  as  he 
can  desire. 

The  death  of  Dr.  Disney  did  not  involve  any 
marked  change  in  the  public  life  of  the  family. 
Mrs.  Disney's  income,  supplemented  by  that  of 
Madge,  enabled  them  to  live  very  much  as  they  had 
done.  It  was  a  matter  of  some  surprise,  though, 
that  Dr.  Disney  left  almost  nothing  in  the  way  of 
money  or  personal  property. 

"  Dr.  Disney  made  some  very  unfortunate  invest 
ments,"  Mark  Brompton  said  to  Mrs.  Disney;  for  it 
was  known  that  Dr.  Disney  had  written  Mr.  Bromp 
ton  the  night  before  he  died.  Indeed,  Mr.  Brompton 
had  spoken  of  this  himself.  "  He  arranged  with  me, 
however,  concerning  an  interest  in  the  Tubal-Cain 
Iron  Works,  in  case  I  could  manage  it  for  him. 
You  will  have  an  income  from  that  one  of  these 
days." 


EPILOGUE.  391 

The  simple  fact  was  that  Dr.  Disney  had  appealed 
on  behalf  of  John  in  that  letter,  earnestly  pleading 
that  for  the  sake  of  "  his  boy  "  Mr.  Brorapton  would 
not  have  recourse  to  the  law.  This  was  what  Mark 
Brompton  called  an  "arrangement."  But  it  gave 
him  an  opportunity  to  do  a  kindly,  generous  thing 
for  both  Mrs.  Disney  and  John,  and  while  some 
people  might  question  the  truthfulness  of  his  state 
ment  no  one  could  question  the  purpose  of  his  heart. 

Madge  allowed  nothing  to  interfere  with  her  work 
at  the  Mission.  Though  her  heart  was  almost  broken 
when  her  father  died,  yet  she  went  on  bravely  in  the 
divine  service  of  comforting  and  helping  others. 
Her  bright  face,  her  kindly  ways,  her  quick,  eager, 
earnest  sympathy,  have  endeared  her  to  scores  and 
hundreds  of  the  laboring  and  heavy  laden. 

Hugh  Dunbar  is  going  on  just  as  we  saw  him  in 
the  beginning.  He  startles  people  every  little  while, 
but  that  does  not  distress  him.  Men  say  that  he  is 
a  "  radical,"  which,  he  says,  means  "  progressive." 
Others  say  that  he  is  a  "  revolutionist,"  which,  he 
says,  means  "  turning  things  right  side  up."  Some 
of  his  ministerial  friends  say  that  he  preaches  noth 
ing  but  "  humanity,"  upon  which  he  smiles  and  re 
plies  :  "  So  far  I  have  met  only  human  beings  in  my 
ministry.  Please  send  on  your  angels."  His  one 
theory  for  everything  is  "the  Christianization  of 
Christianity." 

Of  Sister  Nora  it  need  hardly  be  said  that  she  re 
members  with  the  most  tender  fidelity  her  mother's 
holy  legacy.  Her  wealth  she  administers  as  a  sacred 
trust.  Her  womanhood  she  has  consecrated  to  the 


392  DWELLERS   IN    GOTHAM. 

cause  of  the  poor  and  the  forsaken.     Her  noble  life 
is  a  benediction  to  all  who  come  within  its  reach. 

We  read  that  after  that  terrible  conflict  in  the 
wilderness,  when  the  tempted  One  was  worn  out  with 
hunger  and  weakness,  angels  came  and  ministered 
unto  Him.  That  mighty  parable  is  repeated  in  the 
life  of  to-day.  Sister  Nora  may  not  have  the  wings 
of  an  angelj  but  she  has  the  heart  of  an  angel. 
Among  the  angels  there  may  be  fairer  faces,  but  no 
more  earnest  or  loving  soul.  But  among  all  the 
women  of  Gotham  there  is  none  more  tender,  more 
kind,  or  more  pitiful  than  Sister  Nora. 


Date  Due 


PRINTED    IN    U.S. 


CAT.   NO    24    161 


A    001384198    6 


